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Along with many Bermudians who follow our senior national cricket team closely I thought former national skipper Clay Smith was finished - past it, washed up - and did not include him in the world cup squad I selected late last year.

This was not a decision I made lightly, unlike some people I know I am not a Clay Smith 'hater'. In fact, on numerous occasions, I have thrown my full support behind the accomplished veteran when many were calling for his head. But after careful consideration I came to the conclusion that he was not up to the task of representing Bermuda in the World Cup with what I felt was good reason.

First of all I believed his 'dodgy' knee had not healed sufficiently to allow him to perform at international level. Second I felt that this problem was compounded by the fact that he was twenty to thirty pounds overweight. Third his dismal tour of Africa convinced me that all this was negatively affecting him.

On Bermuda's recently concluded training camp in Trinidad, Smith emphatically answered all of us who doubted whether he still was still up to the challenge, top scoring in Bermuda's two cricket matches against premier Trinidadian club sides W-Connection Wanderers and Clico Preysal with 37 and 50.

Moreover, making those runs at the top of the order in a role he hasn't played since the outset of his career and one, which has been a major headache to national coach Gus Logie for the past two years speaks to his class as a batsman. It also shows the character and tenacity of the man who refused to give up in the face of adversity both on and off the field.

Further, it demonstrates the strong sense of self-belief often misinterpreted as arrogance that Smith has exhibited since his youth. Who can forget his precocious response to Australian pace bowler Michael Whitney during the visit of Allan Border's Aussies to the island many years ago? As the story goes, Whitney, after watching Clay play a false stroke from one of his deliveries, asked the youngster, 'What type of stroke was that?'

Unperturbed Smith proceeded to immaculately drive his next ball to the cover boundary then walked up the wicket and said to Whitney, 'That's the way I meant to play the last one'.

Years later during his first Red Stripe Bowl century against Jamaica, Smith was verbally berated by former West Indian fast bowler Patrick Patterson for playing and missing prior to reaching his fifty. After completing his half-century Clay proceeded to hit Patterson over the mid-wicket boundary and then declared to the stunned pace man, 'You had your turn now it's mine'.

I guess the moral of the story is never count Clay Smith out he is mentally tough and has both the drive and determination to perform in the most difficult circumstances.

He has certainly made me eat 'humble pie' and truth be told as long as he performs with the bat I am more than happy to eat it.

On Sunday while watching a football match, long time Dandy Town stalwart Willis Dill rather excitedly approached me and expressed his disappointment with the team's performance in Trinidad, declaring that the team will not win any more of their matches before the World Cup. I, however, beg to differ and believe the team will surprise everyone and do well in Kenya.

People forget that there were some good performances by a number of the players in Trinidad and I am confident that they will put it right when they play the other leading associate nations. It will take a total team effort to be successful. However, I believe the following five players in particular must play at their best if we are to win:

n Irving Romaine - he must be prepared to lead from the front and rediscover the form that made him our most consistent batsman in Ireland.

n Dean Minors - I am still not convinced that he should open the innings because Bermuda needs Dean at his best behind the stumps and with the bat.

n Janeiro Tucker - another player who must rediscover his form. If he can bring his A game to the fore all of those associates will struggle to beat us.

n Dwayne Leverock - without doubt one of the top three associate spinners in the world his bowling will be vital if we are to win.

n Lionel Cann - his performances with the bat of late have been encouraging and if he can play that 'finisher' role as well as he did in Ireland, Bermuda will do well.

This tournament can in reality be considered as Bermuda's World Cup because it is made up of associate countries that are on our level. Our players would do themselves and the whole island proud by winning it! Good luck guys![[In-content Ad]]

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