January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Blakeney: I've retired from cricket
Blakeney, who denied chairman of selectors Arnold Manders' claim that he had been asked to try out for the national squad last year (last Friday's Bermuda Sun, see page 44 for full story), said if his country called on him he would be there 'at the jump of a dime'.
The former Bailey's Bay batsman, consistently supported on the talk shows and various newspaper columns as a possible saviour of Bermuda's batting order, said he had not trained for nearly two years and was not expecting to be picked.
He said he was enjoying time with his family and, aside from an hour at Cup Match, he hadn't even been to watch a game in over a year.
But he denied that he had deserted his country, saying that his decision to take a break from cricket was personal.
He added that he had not thrown his hat into the ring for the World Cup because he thought it was an opportunity for Bermuda's younger players to put themselves in the shop window for professional careers.
Despite that, he insisted, he had not been asked by Arnold Manders to come back and try out for the squad. Manders rubbished those claims yesterday and stood by his comments.
And he said that if the Bermuda selectors were to come to him now and ask him to have one last hurrah for his country, then he would be there.
"Arnold is one of my favourite players of all time, so that kind of hurts me. He didn't need to say that. He could have just said Glenn hasn't played for two years and left it at that.
"It's nice (that people ask for me to be in the squad) but I do think it would be unfair on the guys that have been there all along.
"If I was asked I'd be there at the jump of a dime but I don't know how that would sit with the other players."
But he said he would not like to take the place of a younger guy.
"My thinking was that this would be a good opportunity for a youngster to stake his claim and maybe get picked up by a scout.
"This is an opportunity that may never, ever come again. I'm at the end of my career but for a young player - one good innings and the rest is history.
"If it came to say a decision between me and Stephen Outerbridge, then definitely take Stephen. He's got youth on his side.
"I'm not out for personal glory or anything like that. Cricket used to be my life but I'm married with kids and my life has changed.
"I don't think I'm going to come back and play. I may play a little Commercial, but I've had a good innings, I'm not bitter about anything. The cricket board helped me go to England, I've got no regrets in my career."
Blakeney, who works at Sports R Us, said he was enjoying a complete break from the game.
"I'm pretty much retired. I'm enjoying the time I'm spending with my family. I didn't even go to a match last year."[[In-content Ad]]
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