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Crunch time! Island team desperate to impress

If Bermuda are to make serious inroads into world cricket the time is now, according to national team skipper Clay Smith.

Having already secured a spot in next year?s ICC Trophy Tournament in Ireland, Bermuda, says Smith, are in position to make the leap from mediocrity to once again being a force among the International Cricket Council?s associate members.

?This is a very critical time for cricket in Bermuda depending on how far the national team can go. If we can actually qualify for the World Cup then I certainly think it would help to lay the groundwork for the future of local cricket. Just qualifying for the ICC Trophy alone shows people our cricket is at a decent level. But we still have a long way to go to qualify for the World Cup,? explained Smith, who used yesterday?s rest day to take in a round of golf at St.George?s with team-mates Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock and Lionel Cann.

In 1979, 1982 and 1994, Bermuda barely missed out on qualifying for the World Cup. In ?79 under skipper Gladstone (Sad) Brown, the Island team were upset by Canada ? today?s opponents at the National Sports Centre ? who went on to join Sri Lanka in the World Cup. They then suffered a crushing loss to Zimbabwe in ?82 under the captaincy of Colin Blades.

An Albert Steede-led Bermuda placed fourth in the 1994 ICC Trophy Tournament in Kenya. Smith was a member of the that squad which came within a whisker of advancing to world cricket?s ultimate showpiece.

Since then, however, Bermuda cricket has stagnated while other countries have either surpassed the Island in terms of international success, or are on the verge to do so.

But a win over Canada today could breathe new life into the sport locally.

?Right now I think our team is going from strength to strength and the players are peaking at the right time,? said Smith.

?Canada seem to be the team to beat basically and this is definitely going to be a clash of the titans. If we can get across Canada then we will be riding on a high going into Sunday?s match against USA.?

In what is expected to be the Island?s biggest challenge in the tournament so far, Smith isn?t overly concerned or intimidated by the task at hand. In fact, a fierce competitor by nature, he firmly believes the Island can rise to the occasion and reach their objective ? that of winning the tournament outright.

?We aren?t really concerned about the Canadians in terms of what they will bring to the table. We are more concerned about sorting out our own game from a tactical standpoint. In some areas I think we can still improve like in our bowling where at certain stages of the game we have a tendency to go flat. So it?s just a matter of us trying to remain focused for the entire match,? Smith explained.

?If we can stay focused and bring along our ?A? game, then there?s absolutely no doubt in my mind that we can beat Canada. We intend to take it one game at a time because if we can?t get by Canada then the best we can finish is second or third. Right now our priority is Canada but basically if we can win both matches over the weekend then we will win the tournament, and I think that would be great for Bermuda cricket and show people that the Island does have a good future.?

With youngsters Delyone Borden, Stephen Outerbridge, Jekon Edness and OJ Pitcher having made considerable contributions to the Island?s success so far, the future of Bermuda cricket appears bright.

?It definitely goes to show the depth we have in our team. On any given day any one of our batsmen from one to nine is capable of scoring a century,? said Smith. ?And so far in this tournament we?ve had several different players come good. Charlie (Marshall), Wendell (White), Glenn (Blakeney), Delyone (Borden), Sluggo (Dwayne Leverock) and myself . . . everybody has chipped in and done a tremendous job, and that?s what it?s all about. One day one person could be on and the next someone else is on.?

However, Bermuda could be without the services of Pitcher this weekend as the St.David?s all-rounder remains listed as ?day-to-day? after sustaining ligament damage to his left hand in Thursday?s 171-run triumph over Bahamas while fielding.

?We will have to wait until the day of the match (today) and see how OJ (Pitcher) responds,? added Smith.

Explosive left-handed batsman Glenn Blakeney, who rested on Thursday, is also harbouring a slight injury to his left groin.

?Glenn is recovering well and basically he sat out the match (Thursday) as a precautionary measure. He has had a slight groin and a hamstring injury,? said Smith. ?But he is one of our senior players and a batsman who we are looking for great things from this weekend. We figured he could use a day?s rest in order to be recharged and ready to go.?

Like Blakeney, all-rounder Saleem Mukuddem and fast bowler Kevin Hurdle are also expected to rejoin the fold. But one headache the selectors might encounter, in the event Pitcher is fit to play today, is which player to drop. White, who deputised for the resting Mukuddem on Thursday, top scored in Bermuda?s innings ? a solid performance which might have cemented his spot in today?s line-up.

Bermuda close out the tournament against USA at the Sports Centre tomorrow in a rivalry stretching over two decades. Bermuda first played against the USA in 1970 in a two innings contest that fizzled out to a tame draw at the former National Stadium. Rupert Scotland scored an even ton (100) while spinner Shiraz Ali took four first - innings wickets for 20 runs.

Smith added: ?I know our players really want this one badly. They have worked tremendously hard and they are very eager and hungry for this. And it?s going to show in our game tomorrow (today) because they are mentally ready and up for the task.?