St.George?s Lewis Foggo has come out forcefully in defence of his club?s wicket-keeper Jason Anderson, labelling his player ?an honest, hard-working black Bermudian who just wants to play the game he loves?.

Foggo, Sports Chairman of St. George?s Cricket Club, is appalled at the way in which Anderson has been treated during the final selection process and poured scorn on the argument, prevalent amongst many on the Bermuda Cricket Board?s executive committee, that the keeper?s disciplinary record was ill-befitting of a national team player.

By way of illustration, he pointed to the somewhat chequered pasts of the likes of Clay Smith and Charlie Marshall ? both of whom were among the 15 man squad announced yesterday ? in order to prove what he believes to have been a chronically uneven playing field with regards to selection.

?If what I read in the paper is true, I find it quite unbelievable,? he said.

?Jason has been up before the Board on just one occasion ? unlike others who have been included in the squad who have had several run-ins with our governing body. In comparison to some other members of the squad, Jason has a fairly good disciplinary record. There have to be other reasons which are not being talked about in public because arguing that his disciplinary record is not good enough simply does not stand up.?

Foggo also attacked what he described as the erroneous impression at high levels within the Board hierarchy that Anderson is a ?walking timebomb? and worryingly prone to misbehaviour, sometimes violent, both on and off the cricket field.

?I just don?t know where this impression comes from that he has a bad character,? he said.

?Jason works every day of the week for the Corporation of St.George?s, he has been away to school and has really come on as a person. None of us are perfect, we have all made mistakes in the past. But I believe Jason has learned from any mistakes that he has made and that he is now being unfairly categorised as a ?bad boy?.?