Clay tells Damali to stay in the UK

The last thing St George’s coach Clay Smith wants to do is “hinder” the chance of Damali Bell fulfilling his cricket ambitions.

The promising Cleveland all-rounder, who hopes to play professionally in the future, is currently refining his skills in the UK at the Kent County Cricket Academy.

But with Cup Match looming there is hype in and around Wellington Oval about the possibility of luring Bell back for trials.

Smith, however, doesn’t support the idea and has advised the senior national squad player to remain focused on the big picture rather than Cup Match.

He said: “As coach of St. George’s I would hate to bring him back just for Cup Match and hinder his possible chances of making more of his opportunity in England.

“Damali has been given a great opportunity in England, and as long as he is supposed to be in England I believe he should remain there.

“He’s a good player and definitely a player for the future without a doubt, and we would love to have him in our team.

“But the last thing I want to do is bring him home for Cup Match and disrupt what he’s trying to accomplish in England. Sometimes in life you only have one opportunity so you have to make the most of it.”

As a youngster Smith passed up the opportunity to represent his country to play in Cup Match.

It was a decision the former senior national team skipper regrets and he has urged Bell against following a similar path.

“I chose to play Cup Match. But if I had a chance to go back I would go with the national squad because Cup Match is not going anywhere.

“Damali has an opportunity to train in England and get exposure at the highest level, and my advice to him would be to stay and make the most of the opportunity because you never know what doors will open.”

Bell was awarded a National Junior Elite Scholarship to attend the Kent County Cricket Academy where he is being put through his paces by highly certified coaches.

Each week he gets the opportunity to train with the club’s first team players while on weekends he plays for St Lawrence in the Kent League.

The left-arm seamer claimed four wickets on his Eastern Counties debut for Cleveland last season and earlier this year represented Bermuda at regional Under 19 World Cup qualifiers in Florida and the ICC World Cricket League Division Two Tournament in Dubai.

Somerset

Meanwhile, when asked for feedback on the vacant captaincy at Somerset, Smith replied: “To be quite honest we at St George’s are more concerned about ourselves than Somerset, but I do find it interesting they have a dilemma.

“I figured it would be a straight forward decision between one or two players; Stephen Outerbridge or Jekon Edness.”