Last week?s Island-wide power outage has forced Somerset Cricket Club to scrap plans to stage Cup Match trial matches under the lights this week.

The champions had originally hoped to host two games under floodlights prior to Saturday?s final trial match in the West End. However, club officials later decided against staging the same kind of night cricket which proved to be a smash hit among local fans last year.

Somerset coach Winston Reid explained: ?We thought it best to play our part not to overload Belco?s system just to satisfy ourselves at a time when somebody else might not be satisfied. We thought that might be a bit too much.

?But this won?t effect our preparations or have any great significance because a great portion of the players were either overseas (with the ICC Trophy squad in Ireland) or playing in the Western Counties plus the fact guys are training continuously with their clubs.?

Instead team officials at Somerset scheduled training sessions for last night and today at the club.

Meanwhile, with Cup Match fast approaching, it is anticipated the champions? squad could undergo some subtle changes this year.

One certain omission will be that of former skipper Albert Steede who retired from the classic last year while club sources have revealed opener that Jermaine Postlethwaite has decided against challenging to retain his spot. Postlethwaite?s unavailability could open the door for Curtis Jackson to make a return to the classic.

At one stage Bailey?s Bay all-rounder Irving Romaine appeared destined to waltz back into the champions? team but a fractured finger has cast strong doubts over his ability to play.

Somerset league players Reid Jones and Azeem Pitcher could turn out to be surprise additions to the team this year, given their consistent form with the bat during the current league campaign.

Jones? great grandfather Austin (Poach) Jones kept behind the stumps for Somerset in the 1920s.

?He (Jones) is scoring runs and is really fancying his chances,? added Reid. ?He has scored almost 500 runs this season and has been looking good. And anybody who is a financial member and is asked to train with the squad must have some quality that we saw in them.

?So everyone who is presently training has shown good qualities and stand a good chance of making the team.?

Last year?s colt Jacobi Robinson is said to be standing on thin ice with the Somerset selectors, possibly paving the way for Wendell White to return to the big stage. Robinson broke ranks at Somerset and joined Western Stars during the off-season.