be unavailable for this year's Cup Match.

However, the west enders are not hard pressed to find a capable spinner to replace him.

Going into Saturday's final trial match at Somerset (10.a.m.) competition for his position remains intense with four players seriously challenging for the spot -- Darrin Lewis, Wayne Richardson, Dwayne Leverock and young Janeiro Tucker who bowls medium pace and is the son of former Somerset captain John Tucker.

"Our position is still good as far as spin bowling is concerned, but it's difficult to say what our strategy will be going to St. George's,'' said Somerst's skipper Andre Manders.

Kevin Saunders, chairman of the selectors, agreed and noted that the situation with the team's bowling overall remained sound and quite encouraging. "In addition to the slower bowling of Lewis, Richardson, Leverock and Tucker our pace bowling looks good with Anthony Edwards, Rodney Fubler, Terry Burgess and Perry Maybury fighting for places,'' he said.

A colt in last year's mid-summer classic, Perinchief hasn't played cricket in over a month after notifying his club team Nationals and Somerset CC that he would be unavailable for the remainder of the season because of work commitments.

His withdrawal automatically means that the Somerset team will require two changes following the decision by fast bowler Kyle Lightbourne to miss this cricket season so as to pursue a professional soccer career in England this summer.

Perinchief had moderate success as a colt last year and would have probably retained his position had he been able to take a few wickets in the trials matches this time around. He took one for 20 off only 5.4 overs in St.

George's first innings last year and followed this up with two for 58 off 12.1 overs in the second innings.

"We didn't need him much at all in the first innings because our pace bowlers were doing pretty well,'' recalled Manders. "But when he did take the ball he did okay.'' There is mild concern in Somerset's camp though over the physical condition of opening batsman Olin Jones and all-rounder Perry Maybury who captained the team in 1987-89 before withdrawing the last two years because of a leg injury he sustained at work.

Maybury suffered a slight strain to his bowling shoulder during a game against Southampton Rangers on July 12 and hasn't played since. "But it's not anything too serious and he expects to be out training this week and playing in Saturday's final trial,'' assured Saunders.

Maybury and Burgess, who was overlooked last year because selectors had doubts about his fitness following an accident, will probably be competing with Edwards and Fubler for the three pace spots Somerset are expected to go with.

Olin Jones' case is different in that he has a hamstring problem and hasn't played in a few weeks. But he has informed Somerset that he will give it a severe testing during tomorrow's training session in Somerset.

While Ricky Hill is back contending for a spot as an early order batsman, Somerset still have high regards for Jones as an opening batsman. He was their highest scorer last year, hitting 64 in their second innings, and has rarely let them down in Cup Match.

"He's been consistent for us, that's for sure,'' noted skipper Manders. But if Jones fails to pass a fitness test this week his place could easily be filled by Hill who returns after withdrawing his services during the final trials in 1990 and consequently being suspended for a year by the club for his action. Dexter Basden will probably retain his spot as the other opener, having been in outstanding form with the bat for his club, Willow Cuts.

Among the other batsmen seriously contending for places this year are Jeff Richardson of Western Stars and Police skipper Ferdinand Thorne.

Turn to Page 25 for more Cup Match Countdown news.

BRUCE PERINCHIEF -- Has added his name to the list of Cup Match absentees.