---

Explosive all-rounder Janeiro Tucker has not ruled out making a national cricket team comeback.

And he could be back in the national set up for next summer's Americas Division One Championship, which could be staged at the National Sports Centre.

The Southampton Rangers player/coach, who captained Bermuda to World Cup qualification in 2005, slipped into "semi-retirement" following the island's failed bid to re-qualify for world cricket's premier showpiece in South Africa earlier this year.

Tucker underwent knee surgery for tendonitis last September and has made "steady progress" since going under the knife. The veteran cricketer dropped a bombshell when he bowed out of the international arena earlier this year.

He said: "I told the Board (in April) that I can't play anymore and that I was going into semi- retirement because my knee was not in the best of shape.

"It was in need of an operation and I told them that after having knee surgery I was going to reassess how things were and then go from there.

"At the moment I am in my eighth week of recovery, so there's still some way to go."

Tucker said he doesn't expect to make a full recovery ahead of Bermuda's Intercontinental Shield match with Namibia in April.

"April is too soon," he added. "I don't think I will be able to be a part of the national set up by then, but June could be a possibility."

Approaching the veteran cricketer was Bermuda Cricket Board development director, Arnold Manders, who is keen to lure the Rangers stalwart back onto the international scene.

Tucker added: "Arnold called and asked me to come back out and I just have to wait and see how everything goes with my knee. "I had surgery in September for tendonitis and I won't know if it was successful or not until maybe January or February. It's not in the best of shape right now and I still have another couple of months to see exactly where I am."

Also retiring following Bermuda's 2011 World Cup qualifying bid earlier this year were all rounder Lionel Cann and spin king Dwayne 'Sluggo' Leverock.

Veteran batsman Glenn Blakeney, who has also been plagued with injury in recent times, has vowed to continue his career at the national level.

Bermuda, meanwhile, lost to Uganda by seven wickets on home soil in their opening Intercontinental Shield match and must now beat Namibia in Namibia and UAE on home soil if they are to stand any chance of progressing in the tournament.

With the proper approach, Tucker is cautiously optimistic Bermuda can get their Intercontinental Shield hopes back on track. He said: "It's not going to be easy and a lot will depend on team selection and how the players respond to the task at hand."

When contacted, BCB executive Allen Richardson said a training squad is expected to be released early in the new year after a successor for departed national coach Gus Logie is named.

Among those tipped to take over the top post is former West Indies coach David Moore who flew to the island last month to meet with BCB officials.

[[In-content Ad]]

---