National team player Lionel Cann has been appointed captain of Cup Match champions St.George?s Cricket Club.

The 33-year-old all-rounder, a unanimous choice, will succeed Herbie Bascome who stood down last year, and now orchestrate the champions? defence of their crown when they travel to the West End in three weeks? time.

?This is indeed a big honour to captain a team in one of the biggest games of cricket that helps bring people together and celebrates the emancipation of slavery in Bermuda,? Cann told prior to departing for Antigua with the national squad for the Stanford 20/20 Tournament.

Cann becomes only the second non-St.George?s club cricketer to skipper the East Enders? Cup Match team in the past 25 years.

Legendary St.George?s bowler Clarence Parfitt was the last in 1981.

Cann?s appointment also means that for the first time in the history of Cup Match two cricketers from the same club, Southampton Rangers, will captain Somerset and St.George?s in the summer classic, Janeiro Tucker being the other.

?As captain of St.George?s Cricket Club I am going to Somerset to play good cricket and to defend the cup,? Cann added. ?I have always been a leader and tried to lead from the front, and now some of the hard work has paid off. And I am grateful to St.George?s for having faith in my abilities and for giving me this wonderful opportunity.?

Cann?s loyalty and unwavering commitment to St.George?s over the past 12 years ultimately tipped the scales in his favour, said St.George?s president Neil Paynter.

?Basically we felt that Lionel is a die-hard and a winner and has always been loyal to St.George?s,? he said. ?This is why we felt he was the best man for the job of leading us, and we wish him all the best.?

The Cup Match champions will announce a vice-captain in the near future.

?We haven?t made a decision as yet in reference to that (vice-captain),? Paynter added.

Cann?s appointment also received the blessing of St.George?s? sports and education committee chairman Raoul Ming.

?We like Lionel?s youth and vigour and this entire committee stands behind him and we are actually excited,? Ming said.

?We have gone and done something that St.George?s Cricket Club has not done before in the new millennium and that?s gone outside of our league captain. And that?s a bold a move for us which I think shows our diversity.

?Everyone is completely behind Lionel, we are happy with the selectors? choice and we are going to retain the cup under his captaincy.?

St.George?s chairman of selectors Ritchie Foggo concurred.

?We decided to go with Lionel because he is a fighter, and I have always admired him for that,? said Foggo, who played under Parfitt in 1981. ?I think that with his attitude and skills we are less likely to lose.

?Everyone wants us to go and retain the cup, but with Lionel as skipper I think we can win this match. And I think the whole of Bermuda will be interested to come out and watch this game because I think there?s going to be a result in St.George?s? favour.

?We are not going to Somerset to sit on our bats, we are going up there to attack and entertain the crowd. And if Somerset want to send us in to bat, then they will have to get us out.?

And as far as possible changes to the champions? team this year are concerned, Foggo smiled: ?I think there are going to be a few surprises. That?s all I can say at this particular moment.?

As captain, Cann is also now a member of St.George?s? Cup Match selection committee that will finalise this year?s squad on July 29 after the champions hold their last trial match at Wellington Oval.