January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Lovable Sluggo leaves with tears in his eyes
Leverock: My heart is still in it, but my body is telling me to slow down
Lovable Sluggo leaves with tears in his eyes
The big left arm spinner, who has become a worldwide star over the last few years, retired in the wake of Bermuda's victory over Uganda on Monday.
"I can always hold my head up and know that I gave Bemuda everything I have," said Leverock, who has taken more than 170 wickets for his country.
"I'm speechless right now. I shed a few tears early this morning and late on after the game when we won.
"It's hard for me. This is what I love to do. It's all in my heart, but this is the right time.
"There comes a time in your career when you need to take a step back. You've given all you can and your body sometimes tells you, with the aches and pains after games, that it is time to slow down.
"Even though my heart is still in it, the body says slow down.
"It is time to take a backseat especially with the youngsters coming through. I want to try to give them an opportunity to play and maybe I can spend some more time with my daughter.
"I haven't seen her as much as I would have liked to over the last four or five years."
Leverock has been Bermuda's most consistent performer in that time.
He has hardly missed a match and while others have succumbed to regular injuries or different priorities, he has remained an ever-present force in the bowling attack.
The obvious highlights include his diving one-handed slip catch against India and the wickets of Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood in a superb spell of bowling against England in the West Indies.
The World Cup in 2007 turned him into a household name. Go anywhere across the globe and tell people you are from Bermuda and you can be sure they will mention the shorts, the triangle and the big hearted, big bellied spinner who has become a national icon.
"Qualifying for the World Cup and being a part of that is something that can never be taken away from me...
"It has meant so much to me to have people recognize me for who I am as an athlete.
"Some people say it is just your size but people look past that, you know. Walking through airports people recognize you, going through different countries people recognize you and talk about the World Cup and my achievements in the Intercontinental.
"I always have time for youngsters. It's a nice feeling to sign autographs and give them advice on their cricket."
Aside from his bulk Leverock's trademark has been his miserly economy rates. He took one for 14 from ten overs on his One Day International debut against Canada in 2006, following up with two for nine against the same opponents later that year.
His one for 12 from ten overs against the UAE in the opening game of this tournament was his best performance in South Africa.
He is the all-time leading wicket taker in the ICC's four-day competition -- the Intercontinental Cup - having claimed 71 scalps in 15 matches in that tournament, often defying criticism of his lack of athleticism by bowling marathon 45 over spells in a single day.
Always a lively, effervescent presence on the pitch and in the dressing room, Sluggo delighted crowds with his victory dances after each wicket. It will be strange to watch a Bermuda team in action without his immediately recognizable presence at his favoured first slip fielding position from which he offered a constant stream of vocal encouragement.
Now he hopes to move into coaching and use the experience he has gained over the years to help take a new generation of spinners to the next level.
"I am looking to take my level two (coaching badge) and get on board and do some coaching, especially with the youngsters coming through.
"I know the level that I've been playing at and I know some of these youngsters can get to that level.
"It is very important for me to help this programme go further. I was given the opportunity, now it is time for others to get their chance."[[In-content Ad]]
Comments:
You must login to comment.