St. George's' Cup Match preparations were interrupted over the weekend when a misbehaving batting strip forced a trial match at Wellington Oval to be abandoned.

The inter-club trial was called off on Saturday after only eight overs when deliveries began flighting from a good length, making play hazardous.

And the very next day, veteran Warwick batsman Sherwyn Richardson was struck in the head by a delivery that stood up while batting on the track designated for this year's Cup Match classic.

"He (Richardson) got one that lifted slightly and went to pull and was struck in the head. That was actually on the Cup Match wicket which hasn't had much rolling," a club source told The Royal Gazette.

"It is still fresh and needs a lot of water and rolling over the next week or so. One end plays pretty good but the other does have one or two concerns. We are going to take some grass off of it and just put a lot more time rolling and watering it over the next couple of weeks to get it hard.

"We only got a heavy roller about three days before the game (Saturday's) and so it hasn't had a lot of heavy rolling and that's what it needs. We play the final trial on it (July 25) which will be an indicator as to where we go from there."

As for Saturday's abandoned trial, the club source explained: "The wicket was wet the day before and it was a new strip that we were using and was full of grass.

"The ball was lifting from a good length and play became dangerous so it was decided to abandoned the match rather than risk getting somebody hurt.

"Nobody was struck but two or three balls started taking off from a good length and Stefan Kelly (senior national team fast bowler) was bowling at a rapid pace. It was decided to stop the match for the safety of the players."

Apart from one or two concerns in the middle, the St.George's source described the outfield and overall surroundings at Wellington Oval as "first class".

"The field itself is in first class condition. It's phenomenal and the surroundings are looking great. The club has put in a lot of work and it's going to be a first class environment come Cup Match."

During the lead-up to last year's classic, Somerset Cup Match hopeful Jermaine Warner fractured his left hand after being struck by a delivery from pacer Kevin Hurdle that kicked up on a lively Somerset Cricket Club track during a practice session in the middle.

Somerset all-rounder Janeiro Tucker was also struck on the hand and in disgust over the state of the pitch walked of the field.

"The pitch was a bit jumpy and the odd ball did pop up," commented then Somerset chairman of selectors Mark Trott.

Somerset Cup Match opening batsman Dion Stovell would neither deny or confirm yesterday claims that he had made himself unavailable for selection in the challengers' team this year.

Rumours abound suggesting the aggressive Southampton Rangers player – one of the Island's most in-form batsman at the moment – has decided against taking part in Somerset's Cup Match plans for personal reasons.

Stovell, who blasted 100 off 62 balls during Rangers' seven-wicket Western Counties second round win over Willow Cuts at Southampton Oval on Saturday, has declined to comment on his Cup Match plans.