Cup Match champions St. George's pulled off a major coup over the weekend by securing the services of in-form batsman Landro Minors who will debut in this week's classic in the East End as a 25-year-old colt.

The St. David's Islander played in an abandoned trial match for St.George's at Wellington Oval earlier this month but then raised eyebrows by showing up for practice at Somerset Cricket Club last week, fuelling speculation that he had switched allegiance.

However, any doubts as to where Minors' heart truly lies were finally put to rest on Saturday as the solid early order bat represented the Vice-President's XI at Wellington Oval and after hours of deliberations – that spilled over into the early hours of yesterday morning – was named as one of two colts St.George's have included in their team this year.

The left-handed bat, who has previously represented St. George's in the Colts Cup Match, only made four runs during the champions' final trial but was still able to convince the selectors he is worthy of a place in their team.

"Landro is exactly where he wants to be – in St.George's where his heart lies," commented St.George's chairman of selectors Lewis Foggo. "Like all the players in our team, we feel that Landro is capable of getting the job done and that's why he is there."

Somerset skipper Jacobi Robinson, added: "Landro trained with us but in the end I guess he went where his heart told him to go."

In all, St.George's made six changes from last year's squad with Minors' St. David's team-mate Justin Pitcher also being named as a colt and batsman Oronde Bascome, wicketkeeper Chris Foggo, all-rounder Rodney Trott and fast bowler Stefan Kelly all earning recalls.

Dropped this year were all-rounder Ryan Steede, wicketkeeper Jason Anderson and left-arm seamer Gregg Foggo while fiery fast bowler George O'Brien jr was overlooked for selection.

O'Brien was struck down by a knee injury during last April's World Cup qualifiers in South Africa and despite making a recent appearance for St. David's in the Eastern Counties failed to convince the St. George's selectors that he is fit enough to play two days of cricket at Wellington Oval later this week.

"George's fitness came into question and basically the consensus was that he is not fit enough to do the job we expect him to do," Lewis said.

"It's always difficult to leave someone out of the team but at the end of the day you can only pick eleven players – and at the end of day we took the best players we felt are capable of doing the job."

UK-based seamer Kelly virtually picked himself by returning impressive figures of four for 72 from 14 overs during Saturday's final trial match while Justin Pitcher's knock of 68 and match haul of two for 59 was more than enough to convince the St. George's selectors that he has recovered from a side strain that has kept him sidelined in recent weeks.

Skipper Lionel Cann blasted 123 and Glenn Blakeney 67 to suggest they are peaking at the right time with the classic just three days away.

On paper, St.George's' team contains two specialists seamers, Pitcher and Kelly, two specialist spinners in Delyone Borden and Rodney Trott and has batting depth from number one through ten.

"We always pick a team with the intent on winning and we are certain the players that were chosen are all capable of doing the job that is required," Foggo added. "For Somerset to win the cup they need to bring the game to us and if they are up for it, it should be a great Cup Match."

Also ringing in the changes this year were challengers Somerset who made a total of five changes to their squad from last year.

Bermuda Under-19 players Joshua Gilbert and Deunte Darrell were named as colts in Somerset's team this year while left-arm spinner Dwayne Leverock, wicketkeeper Jekon Edness and batsman Stephen Outerbridge all earned recalls after missing last year's classic through national team commitments.

Gone are wicketkeeper Ricardo Brangman jr and left-arm spinner Hasan Durham while all-rounder Sammy Robinson, batsman Azeem Pitcher and off spinner Del Hollis did not play in Saturday's final trial at Somerset Cricket Club.

Given his tender age of 15, Gilbert was perhaps the biggest surprise in Somerset's team this year while veteran spinner Leverock virtually picked himself after returning remarkable figures of three for six off five overs with two maidens. All-rounder Malachi Jones also impressed by thumping 80, batting at number seven four the President's XI.

Surprisingly overlooked this year were left-arm spinner Derrick Brangman (three for 36) and right-arm seamer Greg Maybury jr (three for 28) who both impressed with the ball over the weekend.

Somerset's team contains six specialists batsmen, five seamers and five spinners all capable of getting the job done on the day, according to skipper Robinson who is confident his youthful team can put an end to a 27-year winless streak in the East End this year.

"If we can play to our full potential I think we are capable of beating St.George's," he said. "We have a lot of all-rounders in our team.

"Our team is well balanced and as long as we can play together as a team and remain positive over the two days I believe we have a good chance of beating St.George's this year."

Last year's Cup Match ended in a tame draw in the West End.