National cricket team pace bowler Ryan Steede has only one goal in mind these days ? to take his game to a higher level.

And in less than two weeks? time the 30 year-old will get the opportunity to do just that when he rejoins his former side, Atherstone Town Cricket Club in the Warwickshire League in England.

Steede enjoyed a previous playing stint with the UK club in the mid 1990s under Bermudian player/coach Noel Gibbons.

Gibbons, the first local cricketer to score 1,000 runs in the Eastern Counties, is the current coach at Bailey?s Bay ? the club Steede transferred to in 2005 from nearby St.George?s.

Steede, who departs for the UK with the national team on Sunday, will remain in England upon the conclusion of the squad?s ten-day tour to fulfil a seven-week playing stint at Atherstone.

It?s understood that plans to have Steede?s fellow national team fast bowler Kevin Hurdle remain in the UK are also on the drawing board, although Bermuda Cricket Board have yet to confirm which club he might join.

?I didn?t have a good tour of Trinidad . . . my line wasn?t too bad and I didn?t bowl any wides. But of course there?s always going to be room for improvement,? said Steede, who made his national team debut against Canada in Toronto in 2004.

?I think I need to be a bit more consistent and that?s what I will be looking to achieve in England. Being over there will allow me to play cricket on a more consistent basis . . . this opportunity will give me more time to bowl. And the more I bowl, the better I can only get.?

During his first playing stint in the UK, Steede excelled with both bat and ball to earn himself a call to the St.George?s? Cup Match side in 1994.

He scored two centuries and returned several five-wicket hauls, performances which drew praise from coach Gibbons.

And it is this form which Steede hopes to regain, especially with the ball in conditions he enjoys.

?The wickets over there (UK) are very true and have a bit of grass on them for the ball to seam around a bit,? he explained. ?They also have a very consistent bounce and a good pace. I?ve hardly ever played on a dead wicket over there. There?s always something in it for the bowlers.?

Steede also intends to spend more time hitting the irons.

?Obviously my fitness needs to improve and so I intend to spend a lot more time in the gym and do more running,? he added. ?I just want to get as fit as possible because I?ve come to realise you can never be fit enough. I would also like to strengthen my body.?

The Bay all-rounder is also keen to renew old friendships and create new ones during his time in the UK.

?I met some wonderful people there before . . . people who were willing to assist you in any way they possibly can,? he said.

?So I?m very much looking forward to rejoining the team and playing some very competitive cricket.?

If there?s any downside to Steede?s seven-week commitment, then it would have to be missing July?s Stanford Twenty/20 cricket classic in Antigua.

?I?m very disappointed about that because I really enjoyed playing in the 20/20 World Cricket Classic here in Bermuda,? he said. ?It was a very good competition that helped to keep you on your toes.?