Somerset Cricket Club?s bid to dethrone champions St.George?s in next week?s Cup Match classic have suffered another setback with the announcement yesterday that specialist wicketkeeper Kwame Tucker has ruled himself out through injury.

Tucker, 29, pulled his right hamstring during last week?s Stanford 20/20 clash against Jamaica in Antigua when he collided with West Indies and Jamaica opening batsman Chris Gayle in the second over of the innings, attempting to make his ground after darting off on a quick single.

Upon return to Bermuda, Tucker immediately sought therapy, but yesterday made the painful decision of ruling himself out of Somerset?s final trial match tomorrow and next week?s classic.

?I will not be playing Cup Match this year because my hamstring is not healed enough to play in the final trial . . . I am just not ready,? Tucker told .

Next week would have been Tucker?s eighth straight appearance in the classic, having debuted in 1998 as a colt.

However, his omission just might open the door for the likes of club skipper Reid Jones, youngster Stephen Bremar jr or Jekon Edness ? son of former Somerset Cup Match wicketkeeper Anthony (Porky) Manders.

A disappointed Tucker said he was keen to help his team-mates try and win the cup back on home soil. Somerset have been victorious in the West End on three occasions (1996, 2000 and 2002) in the last decade.

?I was really looking forward to getting the cup back from St.George?s and geared up to play,? he added. ?But unfortunately my hamstring is not up to the task. And forcing it just to play in Saturday?s final trial match doesn?t make any sense.?

Having ruled himself out of next week?s game, Tucker has now put his focus on next month?s ICC Intercontinental Cup and Triangular One Day International series against Canada and Holland in Toronto.

?I should be recovered by then because hamstring injuries usually take about two weeks to heal,? Tucker said. ?And I have already completed the first week in the recovery process.

?I have been seeing a therapist every day, and so I should be okay for the Intercontinental Cup.?

When contacted yesterday, Somerset skipper Janeiro Tucker admitted the services of his team-mate would be missed, but declared ?the show must go on?.

?Obviously he (Kwame) is a big loss, but life must go on with or without him,? Tucker said. ?We just have to fill the gap.?

Tucker said whoever was chosen to replace his injured cousin would also be looked upon to come good with the bat.

As challengers Somerset will look to score quick runs and make an early declaration in hopes of forcing a result and atoning for last summer?s 27-run defeat at Wellington Oval.

?We don?t have the trophy and so obviously we will be looking for quick runs,? Tucker added. ?And we can easily get somebody to fill in as wicketkeeper for the two days.

?But we will just have to wait and see how the guys bat over the weekend and then take things form there.?

Somerset Cricket Club were due to announce their final 22 players for tomorrow?s final Cup Match trial at the club last night.