Cal (Bummy) Symonds, the most successful captain in the history of Cup Match, is confident champions St. George's will become the first team to record three successive wins on turf at Wellington Oval this year.

The legendary cricketer, who captained St.George's to eight victories between 1961 and 1969, feels the East Enders have chosen a well-balanced team ¿ one capable of achieving a third win at Wellington Oval in the past decade.

"Somerset have to bowl St. George's out twice to win and I don't really see them doing that," Symonds said yesterday.

"Somerset only have Kevin (Hurdle), Jacobi (Robinson) and Malachi (Jones) as strike bowlers and then they will have to rely on Dwayne (Leverock) and Hassan (Durham) who are both left arm spinners and bowl pretty much the same way.

"I think St. George's have a very balanced team and should be able to achieve their goal this year ¿ but it's really all up to the players themselves."

Like many, Symonds agrees that the champions' strength lies in their batting.

"St. George's have so many weapons in their team like Clay (Smith) and Charlie (Marshall) ¿ it's nice to have these fellows in the team," he added.

Smith only needs another 14 runs to join elder brother Wendell and team-mate Marshall as the only batsmen to score over 1,000 runs in Cup Match.

"I really didn't think Clay was going to make it after the World Cup . . . but apparently he is strong enough to play," Symonds said.

Over the weekend both batsmen hit centuries ¿ Smith 104 and Marshall 115 representing their respective league clubs. It was Smith's third ton of the season and second in successive weekends.

"They are hitting form at the right time ¿ they are veterans," Symonds said.

The former all-rounder feels the champions have selected a winning combination, but admits he would have preferred to see England-based seamer Stefan Kelly included in the squad.

"They forgot to take Stefan Kelly. I think he should've been in the squad as a strike bowler because Arthur (Pitcher) shoud be in the team as a first change," Symonds argued.

"St.George's have two spinners in their team in Delyone (Borden) and Rodney (Trott). But they can't afford to burn George (O'Brien jr) out.

"But even though I thought young Kelly should've been included in St. George's team, I still think they have a good, balanced team that should be able to win this year."

However, former Bermuda and Somerset Cup Match skipper Joe Bailey believes the challengers have what it takes to achieve a first victory at Wellington Oval in nearly three decades.

In 1981 Bailey became the first Somerset skipper to win Cup Match on turf.

And since that famous nine-wicket thrashing, no Somerset team has been able to match that memorable achievement.

"I think Somerset have a pretty good all-round team. They may have too many bowlers in their team . . . but that's exactly what you need to bowl St. George's out twice.

"And I think the selectors have made the right choice this year," the retired Marine and Ports pilot said.

"Somerset have a lot of good bowlers in their team ¿ we are talking about six genuinely good bowlers and I think this is a good choice."

Bailey debuted in the classic at Somerset in 1963 as a replacement for legendary off spinner Austin (Cheesey) Hughes. And after making 19 appearances ¿ six as captain of Somerset ¿ the former off spinner and middle order bat bowed out of Cup Match with a high score of 70 and 39 wickets to his credit at an average of 21.59.

Bailey acknowledged that on paper St. George's have a formidable batting line-up. But he reckoned Somerset have armed themselves with the right bowlers to get the job done.

"It's just a matter of getting the ball on a good line and length, being consistent and taking your chances," he added. St. George's really don't have as many bowlers as Somerset ¿ their strength is their batting."

Batting-wise Bailey feels Somerset do not possess the sort of depth as their opponents.

"I don't think Somerset's batting is stronger than St. George's. But Somerset are trying to win the cup back and so you can only hope that the batsmen they do have in their team can score at least 250 runs," he said.

"I think if Somerset bat first and things go their way they will put a lot of pressure on St. George's. It's important that Somerset try and put 250-plus runs on the board in their first innings and do so in a sensible manner to put pressure on St. George's because their bowling attack is very experienced and strong.

"And I think things could work in their favour because with the team the selectors have chosen I think the cup is going to return to Somerset."

Former St. George's skipper Dennis Wainwright feels that Somerset have a balanced team ¿ but not one capable of dethroning the champions in their own backyard this year.

"St. George's are stronger in the batting on paper and with the bowlers they have I think they will retain the trophy," he said.

"But Somerset also have a very balanced team and based on the bowling strengths of both teams, I think we are all in store for a very good match this year."