'My chance to captain Bermuda is in the past'

Lionel Cann says he’s “flattered” to be considered as a suitable candidate for the captaincy of Bermuda — even in the twilight of his career.

But as flattering as it may be, the veteran St David’s cricketer reckons the distinction of representing his country is now beyond reach.

He said: “Everyone strives to reach for the top and there was a time I felt I should’ve been captain.

“I definitely believe I should’ve been Bermuda’s captain, but that’s in the past now and I don’t hold that against anybody.

“It’s nice to know that people think I still have those qualities, but I have to keep doing what I have to do for the team.

“I am considered as a batsman now and I just do whatever is required to make sure my country gets to the next level.

“Leading my country was something I always wanted to do, but I think it’s gone past my time as far as the captaincy is concerned.”

Former national team skipper and coach, Wendell Smith, begs to differ.

He insists that Cann is “more than qualified for the job” and should’ve been appointed as captain for Bermuda’s current regional World Twenty20 2012 qualifying commitment in Florida.

Dues

“Personally, I would’ve liked to have seen Lionel Cann appointed as skipper. He would’ve been the ideal person in that he knows the game and has been around a long time,” Smith told the Bermuda Sun in a previous interview.

“Lionel has paid his dues plus he will have a very intricate knowledge of all the players having played with and against them.”

Earlier this week in Florida Cann played what might have easily been considered as a genuine skipper’s innings to guide Bermuda to a three-wicket win against Argentina in their opening regional World Twenty20 qualifying match.

He belted three sixes and a four in an unbeaten knock of 55 that carried Bermuda across the line with three balls to spare.

With his teammates misfiring at the crease, Cann said the onus was on him to deliver the goods.

Focused

“We lost some early wickets and that created pressure on us. The wicket was playing kind of slow but it was my job to stay there.

“My job was to just hang in there and I knew it would get easier as long as you bat through the end.

“I just had to remain focused and calm and through all my experiences I knew that I could pick it up and clear the boundary when given.”

Bermuda required seven runs for victory off the final over and Cann proved equal to the task, belting two sixes off spinner Donald Forrester to end the game in style.

Exciting

“I knew the off spinner had to bowl and it was just a matter of taking my time and hitting the right ball and fortunately the first ball was the right ball and the pressure was gone.

“We have been practising scoring ten runs an over so when you get in situations like this it’s just a matter of executing.”

Cann followed that off with a 63 against Suriname on Tuesday with a strike rate of 180 as he made his runs in 35 balls as Bermuda’s opening batsman with captain David Hemp.