Clay ponders a six month break from the national team
Asked if he had given much thought to whether he would continue playing for Bermuda once the final game against Bangladesh was completed this Sunday, Clay Smith said yesterday he would do “whatever his country required” to ensure the team re-qualifies for the World Cup at the ICC Trophy in 2009.
However, the top-order batsman did make it clear he was thinking very seriously about taking a six-month sabbatical from international cricket once the World Cup was over, primarily to give his ageing knees a chance to recover fully from the heavy workload and the recent surgeries.
Smith is the first of the squad’s senior players to comment publicly on their post-World Cup plans, though it is well known that wicketkeeper Dean Minors, skipper Irving Romaine and perhaps one or two others are currently pondering retirement.
“Gus (Logie) and I have sat down and chatted about where we go after the World Cup is finished,” Smith said.
“The coach has given me his thoughts and I have given him mine. He wants me to carry on right through to 2009, but has basically left it up to me to make up my own mind.
“I’ve given it a lot of thought. Right now, I imagine that I will be sitting down with the BCB once the World Cup is over and coming to some sort of arrangement where I can take a six-month break to rest and allow my body to recover and then get back involved fully in preparation for 2009.
“We’ll have to wait and see on that one. All the senior players are aware of the effect it would have on the team if we all retired at once. And at the end of the day, I’m prepared to do as much as I possibly can to help my country and if that means carrying on playing right through, then I’ll have to seriously think about it.”
Smith did confirm he will continue with his playing and coaching responsibilities at Cleveland County this upcoming season, even if he should decide to put his international career on hold.
