Clay Smith has vowed to “bounce back stronger” from serious illness.The former St George’s and Bermuda star batsman is presently undergoing treatment for subarachnoid haemorrhage (bleeding of the brain) at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Boston.“Sometimes you just don’t know what life is going to throw your way,” Smith told The Royal Gazette. “But I just want to thank all the people of Bermuda for showing their love, their support and I just ask them to keep praying for me.“Just like everything else I’ll bounce back stronger. “I’m looking forward to the day when I can return back to Bermuda and show all the people my gratitude for their love and support that they’ve shown me.”Smith was admitted to Lahey after taking seriously ill last week and has since made steady progress towards recovery.“I want to thank God because through him he’s made it possible for me to still be here,” he added. “It’s amazing just seeing the love, unity and strength from the east to the west. “I’m really appreciative and just tell everybody I love them and I will be home soon.”Smith, 49, is regarded as one of the island’s greatest batsman and a Cup Match legend.He is the first batsman to score three centuries in Cup Match and in 1992 shared a second wicket record-breaking partnership of 200 runs with elder brother, Wendell Smith, in an ultimately drawn match at Wellington Oval.Smith also captained St George’s to victory over Cup Match rivals Somerset at Wellington Oval in 1997 as the challengers regained the coveted trophy they relinquished the previous year.The opening batsman scored over 1,000 runs in the annual two-day classic and is also a MVP recipient.Smith also thrived internationally playing for Bermuda having stroked unbeaten centuries against Windward Islands and Jamaica at the former Red Stripe Bowl 50 overs competition in the Caribbean.He is also a former national team captain and in 2007 represented the island at the ICC World Cup also held in the Caribbean.As well as representing the island, Smith is also a former Bermuda national cricket coach and had coaching stints with multiple clubs at the domestic level, including St David’s and Cleveland.In 1997, Smith became the only cricketer to date to win the prestigious Bermuda Government Athlete of the Year Award.