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Cann sweats on Dubai squad decision

Veteran Lionel Cann is anxiously waiting to see if there is one more chapter for him to write in his storied international career.Cann, and the rest of the 33-man Bermuda training squad, will find out at the end of the week who head coach David Moore has chosen to be in the tour party for the trip to Dubai over the New Year, and for the Division Two qualifiers in April.For the former St. George's Cup Match skipper, who came out of international retirement in August, it has been a welcome return to the national fold, and he hopes to take full advantage of the opportunity by proving he still has what it takes to perform at the highest level.“It is just nice to be back in the side training with the guys,” said Cann.“Hopefully the first step to getting to the tournament (in April) is being selected to go on the upcoming tour.“That way I can get out to the middle and show that I am able to play at the top level still.”Alongside Dwayne Leverock, Cann is one of the most senior members of a squad that includes five members of the Under-19 team, as well as established players like Stephen Outerbridge, Rodney Trott and Delyone Borden.“My main thing is to feel good, which I do, and it is almost a sense of rebirth of cricket in me,” said Cann.“With this game you get better with age, you understand more, and know your game better, so I'm looking forward to hopefully getting selected and then making a positive impact in the team.“Obviously with me being around for a while I know what it takes to get into shape for top tournaments, so I'm doing what I have to do, like making sacrifices in my diet, and the extra things.”Being one of the more experienced players in the side is something of a new experience to Cann, and it is a role the middle order batsman said he is relishing.“It has been an eye opener, obviously, coming back into the team and not see the normal faces I'm used to seeing in the changing room, it is different being one of the older guys and a role model to the youngsters coming into the side,” he said.“The youngsters are coming along good, I think they realise the seriousness and magnitude of the tournament and the professionalism that the coach wants from them, so it is step by step because it will be, for some of them, their first time on tour.“They are beginning to grasp things and put in their extras and what is required of them in order to reach the next level.”With the likes of Cann and Leverock in the set-up, the squad is showing a good blend of youth and experience and for Cann the opportunity alone to help the younger guys is a reward.“This is also a challenge and a good thing obviously because I can help them in their education and maturation,” he said.“It feels good to lend my services to the younger guys because I see a lot of potential in them, and I have been around long enough to see the younger players that are coming in and know what their weaknesses are and to help them along a long road.“More talking to them and helping with attitudes and egos is important, I've been around long enough to know what it takes at the top level and it is always a good feeling to help them so they don't follow in a bad path and adopt bad habits.”