with the allrounder's ability to play the game, but rather the potential seen by selectors for him to disrupt team harmony, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Such was the inference of Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president El James in confirming -- albeit quite belatedly -- the St. David's star's omission.

"He was axed, yes,'' said James, a solid allrounder himself during his playing days for Warwick and Bermuda. "We are trying to put together a squad that is a cohesive unit and when we went to the Red Stripe it was really good ... the camaraderie, the atmosphere, everything was great.

"We had no problems at night, no problems on the field, and all the personalities gelled ... it was good, and that's what we want.

"We want a unit that's going to gel together, work together as a unit.'' Never a stranger to controversy, Cann looked to be in good graces in being included in the team which travelled to Canada last August and placed second in the Americas Cup Regional Tournament, but was left out for the Red Stripe Bowl that followed in October.

Nothing was said of the move to drop the player then, however, with the team currently in training for the upcoming tour of Bermuda by English side MCC in May and the ICC Trophy competition soon after in Canada, Cann recently spoke out in wonderment as to the reasons for his banishment.

And considering suggestions from the BCBC which indicated that they had invited some 25 individuals to practise -- evidence now shows that number to have been inflated -- it appeared unfathomable that an allrounder of Cann's pedigree could be left out.

"I'm a bit sceptical about my being left out,'' Cann was quoted as saying in the previous newspaper article. "That's their (selectors') decision. We know that I'm good enough and the best allrounder in Bermuda, but that's up to them.'' However, James, while noting the matter of team selection to be out of his hands and in those of the Board's team of selectors, offered an insight.

"So many times we look at just playing ability, but a lot of other factors come in to play that the coaches and selectors are looking at ...''