Herbie Bascome, the former national cricket coach, is among a group of players who have come out of retirement to do battle for a noble cause in a memorial cricket tournament.

Bascome has been named in the Island Paints Ex Files team that will compete in the six-a-side tournament played in honour of footballer Jason Raynor and cricketer Gary Crofton at Southampton Oval on Saturday.

Cancer sufferer Crofton passed away in 2020 while Raynor died this year from unknown causes.

“Participation is all about healing the nation and what’s going on around us and awaken the spirit of love among our people,” Bascome said.

“I played against Smocky (Crofton) and it was a pleasure to play against a player that had so much heart and desire to earn the success he set out to accomplish.

“I only have memories playing against Ghost (Raynor) in football, and what a player with heart. It was never easy playing against him; he had a heart to be winner.

“With his power and strength, it was always difficult to wear him down. What a player with guts, skill and determination.”

Proceeds from the tournament will go towards the Jason and Gary Scholarship Fund in aid of those pursuing a trade in electrical or masonry.

“I wanted to play out of respect for what the community is doing and because of what the event stands for,” added Bascome, who is a plumber by trade. “Offering a scholarship to study a trade is needed in Bermuda.

“Having sponsorship gives any young person a chance to exploit his/her talent and this gives them the chance to raise their level of insight.

“It is a great opportunity and will allow them to strike a balance in life.”

Island Paints Ex Files will be led by captain Darren Burchall, the former Rangers goalkeeper and wicketkeeper.

The team also includes national football coach Kyle Lightbourne along with two other players with Cup Match experience in Olin Jones and Sheridan Ming, past Rangers cricketer Gary Williams and footballers James Seymour and Dwayne Steede.

The tournament is the brainchild of Rangers player-coach Janeiro Tucker and will feature 10 teams who will battle for $500 in prize money.

The teams will be divided in two groups of five that will play a series of round-robin matches, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-final.

One team Spirit VIII, whose ranks boast Bermuda and Cup Match trio Dion Stovell, Malachi Jones and Allan Douglas Jr are the tournament favourites.

Burchall reckons his team can give their younger rivals a run for their money.

“Pepper (Seymour) and I were chatting about the tournament when we found out Dion, Allan and Malachi were playing in the same team,” he said.

“We wanted to challenge them, so we assembled a team that we think could take them on.”

The tournament begins at 10am.

• For more details on the Jason and Gary Fund, contact 335-8689