Back in the team, back in the runs, and batting in a position that allows him to have ‘the best of both worlds’ Lionel Cann is certainly enjoying his return to the national squad.The St David’s man played two vital innings in Bermuda’s triumphs over the UAE Under-19s this week, crashing an unbeaten 46 off just 29 balls to get them over the line on Tuesday, and hitting a more sedate 32 in a valuable partnership of 76 with David Hemp on Wednesday.During his international career Cann has batted everywhere from number one, to way down the order, but he’s hoping to settle in at five or six under head coach David Moore, and has certainly made a strong case for doing so since his return.And the veteran believes that his experience makes him ideally suited to occupy the place that he wants to make his own before the Division Two qualifiers in Dubai in April.“My role has changed because coming back into the team I had a vision that I wanted to bat five or six,” said Cann.“Obviously with senior players like Janeiro (Tucker), Clay (Smith), and all those guys being out, my role used to be to come in and finish.“Obviously I was blessed with that sort of talent that from ball one I could speed it up a bit and that was required when I first came into the Bermuda team.“Then as it went on, to maximise it a little more, I became an opening batsman, and I had some success there, so I know what it’s like to build an innings, and I know what it’s like to finish it.“My role now at number six puts me right in the middle where I can come in and there will be times where I come in and get set with a batsman that is already set, which is more or less what I used to do when I was opening, and bat a little longer.“Or if I’m coming in and we’ve had a big partnership, and I come in with five or ten overs left like I did when I used to finish, so I get the best of both worlds.“With this role I get to bat a little longer, express myself a little more, it’s the perfect role for me in this young team, because I can take the game away from someone or hang around and build.”Given the run of form that Cann was in prior to his international retirement, and the lack of cricket he played for his club side over the summer, there had been some who doubted his ability to perform at the highest level again.Cann though has worked hard in the off season, and credits that, along with the influence of the team’s sports psychologist, Dr David Scott, with his immediate success.“I’ve been working hard in the nets, getting to know the new coach and his philosophies and stuff. He’s a very serious coach,“ said Cann.“He’s worked hard with me, and let me know what I need to do to get back into the team, the rules, regulations, and my role.“Also Dr David Scott, the psychologist, has been a major, major impact for the whole team, but also for me, having a lot of one-on-one sessions with him.“We’ve been doing imaginary things, thinking about innings, and what it takes to actually get to the next level, so he’s been good, and there’s been immediate success, doing the things that I’ve been learning.“It’s right on schedule now, and this tour was for me to show that I can compete at this level again, hopefully I can continue on and make the team for April, which is the next big goal.”As one of the most senior players in the squad, Cann feels he has a valuable role to play in mentoring a largely young and inexperienced team.And while the present might be tough, he has nothing but optimism about his future.“Half these guys this is their first year, you know a lot of them it’s their first tour,” he said.“They’re very talented, their work ethic is very good, and they are willing to learn, but, they still have to learn.“I understand what it’s like to make mistakes, to fail, I’ve been there, and I can hopefully pass on a little knowledge so that it doesn’t happen.“It definitely looks good for the future. The potential is there. Obviously there is a long, long way to go yet.“International cricket takes a few years, I’m still improving myself, and have been back for four or five years, and I’m just getting better.”