St. David’s’ talented all-rounder Delyone Borden has paid tribute to his late father and former Bermuda national cricket team manager Delby Borden who died from a heart attack in the lead-up to the Island’s successful World Cup qualification in early 2005.

The late cricketer entertained fans for many years with his forceful strokeplay while representing his beloved St. David’s, and he was also a member of Bermuda’s national team that finished runners-up to Zimbabwe at the 1982 ICC Trophy in England. Son Delyone said his father may be gone, but his memory and legacy in the sport live on.

“I always think about him. . . what he has given to me as a cricketer and also as a father. He was the one that introduced me to the game, and I always think about him,” the young Borden said.

“Every time I step onto the field I dedicate the game to his memory and to all of the other people who have helped me with my cricket. I started playing cricket at about age five or six, and basically my father taught me all of the basics of the game.”

Borden, a talented cricketer in his own right, remembers watching his father — a hard hitter of the ball — play during his latter years in the game.

“I didn’t get the opportunity to see him play during his peak years,” the young all-rounder said. “But I’ve heard many good stories about him over the years and do remember watching him play on a few occasions when he was going out of the game.” The promising off spinner has yet to make a big impact in the World Cup so far. But he has bowled reasonably well to indicate that it’s only a matter of time before he finally makes his presence felt with the ball.

“This is definitely an experience of a lifetime. When you get to walk out on the same field as the likes of Sachin (Tendulkar) and Ganguly (Sourav) . . . . it’s really overwhelming because you are used to watching these players on television,” he said.

“But once you get out there and take things one ball at a time, it’s really nothing to worry about. The hype is so much, but once you get out there everything is okay.”

As for the future of Bermuda cricket, in particular at the international level, Borden said: “I think we should be alright in the future as long as our cricket programme continues moving in the direction it is going.

“And as long as we as cricketers can keep the camaraderie and commitment going, we should do really well and qualify for the next World Cup.”