St. David's all-rounder Sammy Robinson has made himself unavailable for selection for Somerset's Cup Match team this year.

The 33-year old right-handed bat and off break bowler has opted to spend quality time with his family during next week's classic at Wellington Oval, something he rarely gets to do these days playing cricket weekends with his beloved Islanders.

"I'm just not motivated to play this year and would rather spend time with the family because it's been difficult to spend time with my son (Sa'Qui) this summer," Robinson told The Royal Gazette. "It really wasn't a hard decision to make because I now have new priorities."

Robinson's omission may have enhanced the chances of fellow St. David's Islander, Landro Minors, of breaking into Somerset's team this year.

Minors dropped a bombshell by switching allegiance from St.George's to Somerset who he practised with in the West End last Tuesday and has been named in the Vice-President's XI for tomorrow's final trial match.

The early order batsman, who took part in an abandoned trial match with St. George's earlier this month, is currently on form having strung together polished unbeaten knocks of 128 and 66 for St. David's last weekend.

Said Robinson of his team-mates' last-minute switch: "Most of his buddies play for St.George's and I would've thought he would have prefered to go there. But personally I believe he has made the right choice. To each their own and if he plays (Cup Match) he will have earned a spot based on his performances, especially in the last three weeks or so."

Minors, who has also been named in St.George's Vice-President's XI, also received a ringing endorsement from Somerset coach Ricky Hill who commented: "He seems to be an organised player who is maturing as a batsman."

Robinson, who blasted a memorable half-century on his Cup Match debut at Somerset Cricket Club in 1998, hasn't ruled out making a possible return to the classic.

"I will just have to see how things go in the future. But next week I will put my feet up and enjoy the game with my family," he said.

Robinson will also be backing the challengers to the core from the stands and he is confident they can achieve their winning objective on foreign turf, a feat they have been unable to achieve for the past 27 years.

"We have the quality players, but things just have to go your way because you have to bowl a team out twice inside two days," he noted. "It's no easy feat, but I think the guys can do it."

Robinson was one of three St.David's Islanders in Somerset's team last year, the others being off spinner Del Hollis and all-rounder Chris Douglas who made his debut as a colt following a tug-of-war between the two Cup Match clubs.

Somerset Cup Match Trial teams: President's XI – Jacobi Robinson (capt), Marcus Johnson, Malachi Jones, Chris Douglas, Jekon Edness, Joshua Gilbert, Dwayne Leverock, Stephen Outerbridge, Dion Stovell, Janeiro Tucker, Duente Darrell, Kamaul Leverock. Reserves: Shaquille Jones, Justin Corday.

Vice-President's XI – Hassan Durham (capt), Jordan DeSilva, Terryn Fray, Landro Minors, Kevon Fubler, Azeem Pitcher, Del Hollis, Ricardo Brangman, Dean Stevens, Ryan Shepard, Tamauri Tucker, Derek Brangman. Reserves: Kamal Bashir, Kamal Easton.