Time and time again Lionel Cann has demonstrated his aggression waving a cricket bat.

But last weekend the 32 year-old all-rounder revealed a more humble and caring side to his nature in paying homage to late grandfather Lionel Mello during a touching grave-site ceremony at Chapel of Ease Church in St.David?s, referred to by many as God?s Country.

In the stillness of early morning, in the church?s cemetery which overlooks the picturesque Coco Bay, Cann proudly placed an assortment of trophies (Cup Match, Belco Cup, Premier Division Limited Overs, Premier Division Knockout Cup, 20/20 Overs Cup and Eastern Counties) in memory of the deceased atop his grave.

But while the impressive display of silverware might have pleased the late Mello, Bermuda?s qualification to the 2007 World Cup Finals would have certainly given him most pleasure, Cann believes.

?He always told me one day Bermuda would qualify for the World Cup. But back then I thought it was a joke,? he said.

?However, having actually achieved it and coming off the season that I had, it is only right to give him all the glory because my grandfather was the one who encouraged me to play cricket. He taught me the game and would take me to matches.?

Cann, like many young Bermudians, perfected his skills playing tennis ball cricket.

?We used to play most of the time in the driveway where he taught me not only to play the game hard, but at the same time demonstrate good sportsmanship ? something I used to have a problem with in my younger years. Whenever I used to get out I would take my bat and ball and go home ? that sort of attitude.

?So he was definitely my biggest fan and he also used to umpire our junior games. I can remember him giving me out whenever the ball hit my pads. Even if I wasn?t out he would tell me the ball should never be hitting my pads in the first place. And this sort of advice made me a tough competitor.?

The late Mello came to Bermuda from the Azores at a young age and later married Cann?s grandmother Constance Mello. He also helped with the construction of St.David?s clubhouse, where he influenced many in a positive light, and prepared the cricket batting strips.

When Cann made the decision to train with the national cricket team, little did many realise he was in fact making a personal commitment to his late grandfather who passed away January 1, 2000 ? the very first day of the new millennium.

He explained: ?I was about to stop playing cricket but then decided to give it a go in honour of my grandfather. So I had to sacrifice my time, change my diet, commit more time to physical training and reinvent my game. And it has all paid off in one season. I?ve reaped every benefit possible in local cricket and it is only fitting to give him all the glory.?

Insisting the best is yet to come, Cann looks forward to rejoining the national team after missing last month?s ICC Intercontinental Cup success in Toronto through work commitments. Bermuda clinched the Americas region to advance to next month?s semi-final against Kenya in Namibia.

?I know I can improve my cricket and there are some areas that need to be fine-tuned. So now it?s time for me to recommit myself to the national team because I do realise the commitment is going to be twice as hard now with the demands of World Cup warm-up matches against tougher opposition,? he said.

?This is actually a dream for Bermuda. I don?t think many in Bermuda expected this success to come. In the lead up to the ICC Trophy Tournament I don?t think we saw the big picture, though we might have all shared the dream of one day qualifying for the World Cup.

?But now that we have actually achieved it the mentality of the cricketers has changed tremendously. So now I am willing to commit myself over the next two years at least up until the World Cup. I don?t want to look too far ahead at the moment. But whatever role the coach (Gus Logie) presents me with I want to be at my fullest potential in order to help carry Bermuda to the next level.?

Experiencing success during a season few would even dare to dream of, an inspiring knock against St.George?s catapulted Cann?s confidence to dizzying heights.

?That had to be my biggest moment of the season scoring 90 runs at the beginning of the season,? he said. ?That was my first innings of the season and it was good to see some of the rewards from all the hard work I had been doing in training come out. And to actually put what I had been working on in practice into place gave me hope and confidence. I probably only had two bad innings this whole season and so I have been consistent throughout the season in all competitions.?

Cann scored 522 league runs at an average of 104 runs per innings for Southampton Rangers this past season with a high score of 128 not out. He also took 19 wickets at a cost of 353 runs.

During July?s ICC Trophy in Ireland, the seasoned all-rounder scored 150 runs at an average of 30 runs per innings and seized three wickets.

He added: ?I think what really made me successful this past season is that I respect the game more. Before it didn?t matter who was bowling or what ball was being bowled my shot selection was always pre-meditated ? which is a sin in cricket.

?Now I play every ball on its merit; if it?s a bad ball I can get the maximum from it or I can run between the stumps and milk the singles and doubles. It?s all about maturity now and trying to build an innings. I think you mature as a batsmen when you reach your thirties. So I am still maturing and still haven?t reached my best yet.?

Cann also experienced joy beyond the boundary this past summer, the birth of daughter India on the first day of Cup Match. He also has two sons, Diego and Sanjay both of whom are also actively involved in sport.

And like his grandfather before him, Cann is also prepared and willing to pass on the torch and nurture future talents.

?They play both sports and I refuse to force any particular sport on them,? he added. ?I more or less allow them to learn and enjoy playing among their peers. But once they get serious then I will work with them fully. I don?t limit them and as long as they are receiving good education and their school work is up to par sports is secondary in their lives for the moment.?