Reggie Tucker Jr will lead a Western Counties Cricket Association (WCCA) XI next Monday against Trinidad and Tobago?s Clico Preysal at Somerset Cricket Club.

WCCA confirmed the diminutive Willow Cuts all-rounder as skipper yesterday for next week?s official tour opening 20/20 contest at Somerset, beginning at 6 p.m.

However, the remainder of the squad will not be known until later today, an association spokesperson told

Tucker, who toured Toronto earlier this summer with Cuts, could be joined by club team-mates Sheroy Fubler, Ryane Shepperd and veteran batsman Dexter Basden who have also been included on an initial list of 17 players.

Basden, who fancies the team?s chances next week, has also agreed to fulfil dual roles as player/coach.

?We are playing at home on our home turf at Somerset and so I think this will give us an advantage,? the veteran batsman told .

Yet while Basden has little knowledge about the Trinidadians, he still expects the tourists to be formidable opponents.

Preysal have included West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, fast bowler Ravi Rampaul and Bajan off-spinner Ryan Hurley among a 13-member touring party.

?I?m pretty sure they (Clico) are going to be a strong side coming out of Trinidad,? Basden added. ?But this is only a 20/20 match and they don?t know what they are up against . . . just like us.?

Division One side Clico lost to Bermuda?s senior national team in Couva, Trinidad earlier this summer by six wickets.

The Caribbean team will be captained by top all-rounder Shazan Bobwah.

?We want to do well and are very much looking forward to this tour,? commented club executive and former Trinidad and Tobago skipper Rangy Nanan.

The Trinidadians have opted to use the tour to blood some of their younger team members.

?We have a lot of youngsters coming with the team and so this tour will be for development purposes.? added Nanan, who last toured Bermuda with Trinidad and Tobago in 1978 with a team containing the likes of Sheldon Gomes and Derryck Murray.

Basden also believes his team is well balanced with youth and experience.

The WCCA XI boasts the talented likes of Malachi Jones, Chris Douglas, Andrew Raynor, Sheroy Fubler and Dion Stovell, blended with the experience of batsmen Basden, Daniel Morgan, Gerald Simons and Waldron.

Seventeen-year-old Jones debut for Bermuda?s senior national team in Toronto last month.

?Sometimes to have a young team without any senior players to lead them is not good at all,? Basden stressed.

Meanwhile, following Monday?s 20/20 contest the Trinidadians will lock horns with the Island?s national cricket team at the National Sports Centre (NSC) in back-to-back 50 overs matches next Tuesday and Wednesday.

The tourists will then meet Premier Division champions Southampton Rangers at Somerset in another 50 overs contest on Saturday, September 23 before closing out their five-match tour against a Select XI comprised off players who participated in Somerset Cricket Club?s second annual 20/20 Tournament at Somerset.

The Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) sanctioned event is being co-hosted by Somerset Cricket Club and Southampton Rangers Sports Club.

Admission to all matches at Somerset CC is $5, while seniors and children will be admitted free.