he begins a slow recovery from a knee injury known as Chondromalacia.

Smith has just returned from Washington, D.C. where he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair "wear and tear'' after overdoing it during a strenuous training routine in the last months of preparation for the upcoming season.

"It's wear and tear to the joint surface and they had to shave the joint all around the knee through arthroscopic surgery,'' Smith explained.

"It didn't involve the ligaments, tendons or cartilage, so from that point it's good news. All around the bone was very rough and it needed to be shaved and smoothened.

"There is also some lateral release to allow better movement of the joint.'' The surgery was performed by orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Carl McCartee, Jr who was recommended to Smith by fellow cricketers Clevie Wade and Ricky Hill. He performed minor surgery on Wade's knee a couple of years ago, having been recommended by former national team coach Gary Darrell who knew of him from his time as a pro with the Washington Diplomats.

"I have to thank Clevie and Ricky for setting me up with Dr. McCartee,'' said Smith. "Apparently he used to work with the Diplomats as a team doctor and also either the Bullets or the Redskins, so I knew I was in good hands.'' On the advice of the specialist, Smith will not be racing back into action, even though there is the temptation to get involved in the build-up to the season especially with St. George's having boosted their ranks with three key signings, which should make them serious contenders for the major honours.

"He's advised me to be smart and to come back slow rather than race because there was a lot of wear and tear,'' Smith, 33, said. "Normally with arthoscopic surgery you're back in four to six weeks but this should take about three months. I'm looking at all of April, May and June.

"I'm disappointed about that fact because we have a very mature team this year with Dexter Smith, Anthony Trott and Ricky Hodsoll joining us. But I'm definitely going to take his advice and not come back too soon. It won't be easy watching but I've got to do what I've got to do.'' Smith says the injury came in January after a period of intense training, which included 10 laps around Wellington Oval every night, followed by circuits up steps and 100-metre sprints. If that was not enough he was also going to aerobics during lunch time, cross-country at school with his students and more gym work after school.

With this starting in October, it clearly became too much for Smith's joints to handle.

"To be honest I knew I was over-training but I was really motivated about this year,'' Smith said. "I also kept attending sessions to help the national squad out.

"My one goal left in cricket is to help Bermuda as much as possible. Even when I was not going to Barbados I was still helping with sessions.'' For the first time since graduating from college in 1983, Smith will miss the start of a season. And while he is certain to miss both the brief Pakistan tour in May and the visit in June of the West Indies `A' team, Smith still has his sights set on playing this season and staying in the reckoning for a place in the team for the ICC Trophy in Kenya next year.

"It's my first major injury, but it gives me time to put things in perspective and not let it mentally affect me,'' he said.

"Bermuda cricket is at an all-time high right now. (BCBC president) Ed Bailey deserves a lot of credit for that. It's just a pity from my standpoint that this injury has come now.

"The main thing is to get healthy and, once I'm healthy, to take care of the rest myself. Hopefully, once I'm healthy, I will hit form. Last season is a big encouragement.'' WENDELL SMITH -- Lost to St. George's and Bermuda until July at the earliest.