January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Bring on the Scots!
Bring on the Scots!
The big spinner - who has been consistently among the world's best bowlers outside of the Test playing nations - is relishing the opportunity to play on home turf for the first time in more than four years.
And after his heroics against Canada at the weekend he is keen for a repeat performance against a highly rated Scotland squad, which arrived in Bermuda on Monday, ahead of the four-day Intercontinental Cup Clash, starting at the National Sports Centre tomorrow.
Leverock has a phenomenal record in the longer format of the game with 58 wickets in 13 matches and is the third top wicket-taker, with 21, in this year's competition.
"I'm bowling pretty well. I'm doing what I have to do - but I think I can bowl better," said Leverock, reflecting on his 10 for 129 against Canada.
The Police spinner, one of only three players in the current squad to have played a home international, has fond memories of playing in Bermuda.
"Last time we played here in the Intercontinental Cup I took seven for 57.
"It should be interesting. I'm definitely looking forward to playing at home. The guys are up for it but we have to take in one ball at a time and do what we have to do.
"We are playing against tough opposition. We haven't really played here that much, so it's not really home-town advantage."
As the senior bowler in the team, Leverock knows he will be a marked man. But he believes that Scotland have more to worry about than just him.
"If they're worrying about me, that's alright. One of the other bowlers could be a surprise to them.
"They won't have seen much of Rodney Trott or Stefan Kelly."
Leverock is 37 on Monday and along with skipper Irving Romaine, Ryan Steede and James Celestine, he is one of four players over 30 in the current Bermuda squad.
But he is enjoying his status as an elder statesman - passing on his knowledge to the youngsters.
"It was a memorable performance against Canada because this is a new team. We had a lot of youngsters. It's been good to have them available.
"It's very nice to have up and coming young spinners to work with - particularly players of the magnitude of Rodney Trott and also Tamauri Tucker.
"I'm trying to help them where I can and I'm sure they will get even better as time goes by and learn different tricks of the trade."
Meanwhile Bermuda coach Gus Logie has named an unchanged squad for this weekends game - sticking by the young guns who toppled Canada by 106 runs.
Logie said the 15-man squad had shown commitment, hard work and professionalism on the tour and deserved to represent their country at home.
George O'Brien, who twisted his ankle against the Canadians on Monday, is fit to play and Logie has no injury concerns about any of his squad.
"The confidence level is pretty high and we are going to continue with this group. This is the first time playing at home for a lot of the guys and what we have to hope for is that the support will come out. It's great for the guys to have their family and friends and co-workers around them."
But Logie warned his players would not be pandering to the crowd with big shots and innings like Irving Romaine's stoic 84 from 276 balls against the Canadians would be preferable to 20-20 style big hitting.
"It's not about coming to entertain. Someone could play a big hitting cameo but you will get parts of the game where it is going to be a war of attrition.
"I think people can appreciate a different kind of quality - a different type of game. And whether you are Bermuda, West Indies or Australia you do what you have to do to win."
National Sports Centre groundskeeper Trevor Madeiros said he expected the wicket to hold up for the four-day game - despite some negative comments over the past few years about the quality of the strips at the stadium. "We've been keeping a lot of grass on it. It's going to be a typical four-day wicket. It will suit the speed bowlers to start with and the spinners later on. We've had a bad rep but we've got a very good groundsman in Jason Wilmot. He knows the wicket well and we're confident about it. The proof will be in the pudding."[[In-content Ad]]
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