year, will have to wait another year to redeem himself after being dropped from this year's team.

The youngster was a surprise omission after taking a 50.16 batting average into the last trial, his 602 runs being the second highest aggregate this season. The thinking amongst the selectors, apparently, is that Smith is too inclined to be aggressive and subsequently chose to retain Graham Fox instead.

Fox has had some important innings in Cup Match in his few appearances, including a crucial 42 last year in the St. George's first innings. With Charlie Marshall returning to the team, as expected, the selectors were left with deciding who amongst the batsmen to leave out.

The champions made three changes in all, with all three players coming in having played in Cup Match before. Fast bowler Anthony Braithwaite was omitted after just one Cup Match but the man coming in to replace him wasn't Western Stars captain Gary Brangman, as anticipated, but spinner David Adams.

Marshall, out for the last two years, replaced his Bailey's Bay clubmate Smith, while the other change saw wicketkeeper Dean Minors coming in to replace Allan Douglas who has retired from the classic.

Team: Wendell Smith (capt), Clevie Wade (vice capt), Arnold Manders, Clay Smith, Charlie Marshall, Noel Gibbons, Graham Fox, Dean Minors, David Adams, Kenny Phillips, Dale Fox. Res: Glenn Smith, Troy Hall.

Again the St. George's batting has great depth, right down to keeper Minors who will likely bat at number eight. but unlike last year they have a specialist spinner in Adams as Kenny Phillips and Dale Fox form the two-prong attack. Fox was another who must have been concerned about his place but his six over spell on Saturday, which yielded just 13 runs and included three maidens, went some way towards convincing the selectors that he deserved to be retained.

One position captain Wendell Smith will have to give strong consideration to is the other opening batsman spot. Last year Clay Smith did the job in the first innings of Cup Match with Arnold Manders, with more success, facing the new ball in the second innings.

Few players performed well in this final trial match which was hit by the rain. Smith had the highest score of the day, 72, before being last out for his the President's XI who had batted first and scored 178.

Marshall, Glenn Smith, Manders and Clevie Wade all failed after makeshift opener Dean Minors departed without scoring when the score was 10. Marshall managed 13, while Smith scored just five, Manders eight and Wade four before Lionel Cann (27) helped the team recover as he shared in a sixth wicket stand of 34 with his captain which brought them back from 57-5.

Kenny Phillips and spinner Eugene Foggo both took four wickets to lead the Vice President's bowling.

Opening batsmen Dennis Archer led their batting with 40 out of a total of 81-1 when the rain came to end the match prmaturely. Archer and Foggo put on 64 for the first wicket with Foggo and Chris Smith both 14 not out.

The St. George's team will train this evening and tomorrow evening at Wellington Oval at 5.00 before going to a pre-game dinner on Wednesday evening.