WHEN George Cannonier took on the task of rebuilding the St. George's cricket team the last thing he imagined was that he would be out there in the middle in his 50s.

But the oldest player in the Premier or First Divisions has been doing just that lately, coming out to make up the numbers in a team mostly of teenagers and 20-somethings. The age gap is so big that Cannonier played with and against Oronde Bascome's grandfather, Gregory Foggo, more than 20 years ago.

"I didn't intend to play, my whole plan was to rebuild the team in St. George's with the youngsters," said the club's coach who led the team's bowling with 3-38 in the 80-run victory over Devonshire Rec. last Sunday. Not bad for a 56-year-old!

"I picked the team and I didn't have myself in the team, but Herbie (Bascome) and Troy Hall convinced me to play. They thought I would be valuable to the team as an extra bowler.

"I had played on Saturday and wasn't feeling up to playing two days. When we play away from home sometimes some of the youngsters don't show up so I started playing."

The contribution of the team's four senior players proved decisive as St. George's pegged back a Devonshire Rec. side that threatened to pull off victory as captain Dean Stephens hammered 50 for Rec. after coming to the crease with a leg injury. Hodsoll, returning to playing this season despite being in his mid-40s, scored 62 while Hall topped the batting with 80.

"When we were coming off the field, a woman said 'Bascome, this isn't fair to have you, Cannonier and Squiggy (Hodsoll) in the same team against these young boys'," Cannonier said of one particular comment. "I thought it was funny.

"Another guy who used to play for Devonshire Rec. came up to me and said 'you make me feel proud'."

And while he is enjoying himself, Cannonier isn't moving away from the plan of rebuilding, having already laid the foundation. A few years ago he and Delby Borden were largely responsible for nurturing the youngsters that now make up the nucleus of the St. David's team.

"Bussy (selector Lewis Foggo) and Neil Paynter (St. George's president) sat down with me and said they wanted to up the enthusiasm of the players who were playing low key and with low morale," said Cannonier of the approach from St. George's.

"There are a lot of youngsters over there but in the three years I have been there the juniors have dropped off a bit, especially in the 15-year bracket. Still, it's only a matter of time before they make it into the senior team. We have places that can be taken with youngsters and the intention is there to play them but they're not securing the positions for themselves.

"I have a strong commitment to develop the youth and I don't want anybody to think I'm playing for my own greed."

Some of the youngsters include Kyle Hodsoll, Ricky Hodsoll's nephew, whom Cannonier describes as a natural allrounder, spinner Jade Foggo and Oronde Bascome, who recently scored his first century in top-flight cricket. Another is Jamel Daniels whom Cannonier thinks can develop into a good bowler.

"If we get promoted we will need the youngsters next season," Cannonier stressed.

"But it is only the genuinely talented ones who will likely stay. Cricket is boring to them compared to football and unless they like cricket they will always lean towards soccer.

"In cricket you have to stand out in the sun for a couple of hours when the other team has a big stand and then you may go in to bat and get a duck. Things like that can discourage youngsters. Unless you are talented you are probably not going to stick with it."

Most of the island's teams have a new look about them with a new generation of youngsters coming through to replace players who have bowed out. Cannonier admits he faces a challenge at St. George's trying to groom the next generation of top cricketers, but that can be said at just about any club.

"I always liked to look at cricket like a professional and I try to impress that on the youngsters but it doesn't seem to be getting through," he said. "I remember telling the youngsters at St. David's that they need to think like professionals but they pointed out they weren't getting paid for playing."

Added Cannonier: "We're in the World Cup but in reality things are not really taking off with the young players. You're getting some young players standing out, like Oronde Bascome and Malachi Jones, and we're seeing production from these guys."

Last weekend Cannonier came up against another youngster whose name has been constantly linked with the national team. Dean Stephens smashed a 27-ball 50 with 44 of those runs coming in boundaries as the injured Stephens did little running between the wickets. As long as he was at the crease Rec. had a chance of victory.

"I was happy he was batting down the order," said Cannonier.

"He has always been impressive to me, but he probably didn't have the eagerness to play at a higher level. You read about these guys in the papers but sometimes he seems to just go through the motions. We sent him an invitation to train for Cup Match but he said he hadn't received it. He's a good utility player, with his left-arm spin."

Cannonier may have to turn out again as St. George's could be missing two or three players when the Bermuda youth team goes to Barbados next month.

"I have to put up with the soreness, but I keep myself in shape," he assured.

"I'm enjoying coaching and watching the young people do well. There is nothing better than watching a young person who you had something to do with do well. I read a quote that said something like 'coaches are like lighthouses, we just guide them so they don't go on the rocks'. I live by that."