Jacobi Robinson will fulfill a life-long dream when he leads challengers Somerset Cricket Club in the annual Cup Match classic in the West End later this month.

The 23-year-old all-rounder is now the third captain of Somerset's Cup Match team in the past four years, following in the footsteps of Janeiro Tucker and Hassan Durham.

Since his debut in Cup Match four years ago, Robinson has become a key cog in Somerset's team and in 2005 earned the coveted Safe Hands Award for a superb catch at short square leg to dismiss veteran batsman Charlie Marshall at Wellington Oval.

Robinson is a product of Somerset's youth programme, having risen through the ranks.

Robinson said it had always been a dream of his to captain Somerset in the annual cricket spectacle.

"It's certainly an honour. Having lived in Somerset, you always want to play for them in Cup Match and to be appointed skipper is a dream come true," he said.

Robinson, the first 'home grown' cricketer behind Perry Maybury to lead Somerset in the annual mid-summer classic, is a survivor of the West Enders' team that relinquished the coveted trophy in St. George's three years ago.

However, under his captaincy Robinson his confident Somerset can make amends for that gut wrenching loss at Wellington Oval chasing a paltry total.

"I am definitely be up for the challenge and will try and do my best to bring the cup back to Somerset," he declared.

"That would be like a dream come true for me – winning the cup in Somerset with a home grown captain in front of the home crowd."

Mark Trott, chairman of Somerset's Cup Match selectors, believes the challengers' new leader is the right man for the job.

"Jacobi always tries to lead by example, even when things are not going in his favour," Trott told The Royal Gazette. "The guys all respect Jacobi and look up to him."

Trott is also confident the ex-Port Elizabeth International Cricket Academy student will make a seamless transition into his new role as skipper.

"Some people actually thrive in that environment and I believe Jacobi is one of them," he added.

"He has the ability to make the players around him perform better and I think in time Jacobi will prove his worth for Somerset.

"Jacobi has a bevy of experience around him and one of the most endearing things that he has in his favour is that he's father (Wayne Richardson) and uncle (Jeff Richardson) have both played in Cup Match for Somerset."