Of all those in the English media who wrote about Dwayne Leverock yesterday, perhaps none were more qualified than Bermuda’s own Dexter Smith.

A superb cricketer in his own right, who represented Bermuda in Kenya at the ICC Trophy in the 1990s, opened the batting and topped the batting averages on that tour, Smith is familiar and has played with almost all of those in the current Island squad, including Sluggo.

Now a sports sub-editor on The Times in London, the former sports editor of The Royal Gazette>and Cup Match player continues to follow Bermuda cricket closely.

Who better then to offer readers of one of the world’s most respected newspapers a detailed account of the big spin bowler who mesmerised the England bats on Monday?

Here’s what he wrote:

“There is a lot more to Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock than meets the eye. At first glance, the 19-stone left-arm spinner elicits quizzical stares and gaping jaws, especially in the modern age of fitness coaches and nutritionists, but an appreciation for the 35-year-old is developed the instant he bowls his first ball.

“The big man gives it a good rip, as Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen discovered yesterday, and lacks nothing for effort in the field. But concerns about his weight, which has fluctuated between 18st and 22st over the past ten years, played a significant role in hindering his opportunities.

“Ultimately, the Bermuda selectors accepted that he was the best slow bowler they had, and now he is one of the first names on the team-sheet.

“I first came across Leverock as a reed-thin 15-year-old, who had promise as a cricketer but was more interested in following his father as a prolific goalscorer until knee injuries brought a premature end to his aspirations in top-flight football in Bermuda. It was then that he paid full attention to cricket, but within two years of joining the Bermuda Police Force he had gained a prodigious amount of weight.

“Leverock’s obvious handicap was not helped by an asthmatic condition, but he overcame the odds to do well at domestic level before gaining Bermuda recognition.

“A crowd favourite, for his indefatigable spirit if not for the wild celebrations after taking a wicket, Leverock is all-action, relatively speaking. A rocking bowling action, exaggerated follow-through and long stare at the opposition batsman before adjusting his trousers is his trademark.

“He got me out once, too, which should be of some consolation to Collingwood and Pietersen. I recovered, and I suspect they will, too.”