Cann: I need players who can do the job

WEDNESDAY. JULY 11: Oronde Bascome’s appendix surgery has put St George’s behind in their Cup Match preparations.

Lionel Cann has been asked to step back in as captain, and he admits that he normally would have been better prepared had he known he was going to pilot  the east end club in the Classic.

Cann captained St George’s to a win in 2006 and then successfully defended the Cup in 2007 to 2009.

He said the Blue and Blue faithful need not worry even with the late buildup, the Cup will be returning to Wellington Oval.

Cann even missed the first of what was to be only two trials for St George’s as he was playing in the Hiscox Under-11 Celebrity Cricket Match on Saturday at the National Sports Centre.

“If I had known I was going to be captain, I would have never missed such an important trial.

“Normally, I would have gone to more games and watched the players and checked the stats — I haven’t been doing that. When I was captain I kept up on a week by week basis. I would check different players and see how they handle different situations.”

“When it came time to pick the team, I didn’t have to pick players who made a lot of runs during the season because they aren’t the ones who necessarily perform during Cup Match.

“This is two long days of cricket. I need to find players who can do the job. I don’t want people who all they want is to say ‘I’ve played Cup Match.’ I want players who know the seriousness of Cup Match and what it represents.

Interested

“I want to know what they are playing for: Themselves, their family, slavery or other reasons. I want to know what makes them tick.”

“I only have three weeks to get ready now.”

The big hitting batsman said that has caused a rethink about the number of trials St George’s would have and an additional one would be scheduled for this Saturday with the final trial on July 28.

The St George’s captain said after he does some homework he would have a talk with a few players to see if they would be interested in playing for the east end club.

Cann will also be working with a new chairman of selectors in George Cannonier.

“I need to meet with him and tell him what my vision is and see what his vision is and work out a plan.

“Cup Match is just more than showing up for two days.”

He added: “I don’t care what Somerset does. We have to play our game. We need to control, we can control.

Can said discussions had been ongoing about him taking on the captaincy again.

“I told them straight up that St George’s has given me so much and made a big impact on my cricket career, I said ‘Any time the club is in crisis or you need me, of course, I’d be there for you guys.”