One of the most revered fingers in local cricket is back in commission.

Showing little signs of rust or the effects of a broken ring finger on his right hand, Bermuda ICC Trophy hero Irving Romaine returned with a vengeance during last Saturday?s Eastern Counties clash at Lords, belting a typically aggressive 58 runs off 58 balls.

It was the Bailey?s Bay all-rounder?s first match since returning from Ireland last month with Bermuda?s successful ICC Trophy squad.

An integral figure in Bermuda?s ICC campaign, Romaine scored 213 runs in six innings at an average of 35.50 and recorded a high score of 71 ? despite breaking his finger early in the tournament fielding against Denmark.

And it is this courageous approach and consistency with the bat the Bay stalwart hopes to reproduce next week in Toronto where Bermuda open their bid to qualify for October?s ICC Intercontinental Cup semi-finals in Namibia against Canada at Toronto Cricket and Skating Club.

Romaine stroked 37 and 40 against the Canadians during last year?s inaugural tournament in Toronto and more recently 71 off 90 balls at last month?s ICC Trophy, the early order bat succumbing to the leg-spin of Kevin Sandher on each occasion.

?It?s just something about left-arm spinners,? Romaine smiled. ?But my finger definitely feels a lot better though my timing was a little off on Saturday. A couple of shots went up in the air but I should be alright after a couple more sessions in the nets.?

Last year against the Canadians at Sunnybrook Park, Romaine appeared destined for big knocks in each innings, only to be dismissed just as he began to get on top of the bowling and accelerate the run rate.

?This is a whole new game and my batting style still has to change drastically,? the 33 year-old Romaine admitted. ?I am good at scoring quick runs but the mental challenge for me now is to try and stay at the wicket and select my shots.?

Bermuda?s squad for next week?s tournament in Toronto has undergone several changes from the one that competed against Canada just over a year ago and during last month?s ICC Trophy.

Delyone Borden, OJ Pitcher, Dennis Archer, Reggie Tucker and Jekon Edness are all missing while, as expected ICC players Dean Minors, Chris Foggo and Somerset Cup Match skipper Janeiro Tucker are included along with spinners Rodney Trott and Hasan Durham.

Two inclusions which raised a few eyebrows were those of Warwick player and ICC Trophy team physiotherapist Daniel Morgan and Leg Trappers? early order bat Graham Strange.

Lionel Cann has again opted to sit out after also missing last year?s three-day tournament.

Clay Smith, who finished 12th on the Intercontinental Cup batting averages last year, will again captain Bermuda. The St.David?s player/coach stroked 190 runs in four innings at an average of 47.50, scoring 63 crucial runs in Bermuda?s second innings that went a long way towards salvaging a draw against the Canadians on their home turf.

?It?s a lot of change in the squad and new players bring new energy and hopefully it will feed into some of the guys who have been there (training with the squad) since last year October,? Romaine added.

?It?s definitely a good team and I think we have a good chance of going to Namibia. All we have to do is continue playing as a team. That has been the secret to our success, sticking together as a team which is vital playing in the three-day game.?

The ICC Intercontinental Cup provides top associate member countries exposure to the longer version of the game.

Teams will receive 14 points for a win plus any bonus points accumulated while teams drawing or losing a match receive only their bonus points. Only in the event of a tie will teams pick up seven additional points.

Bonus points can be accumulated in either innings with a maximum of six batting points per innings awarded on the basis of 0.5 points for every 25 runs scored up to 300 runs. A maximum of five bowling points are available per innings allocated at 0.5 points per wicket taken.

To encourage teams to play for a result, the first innings of each side will be restricted to 90 overs unless the team batting first do not utilise their 90 overs in which case the team batting second can bat for their 90 overs plus the overs short of 90 not utilised by the team batting first.

A minimum of 105 overs must be bowled on the opening two days of the match. : C.Smith (capt), J.Tucker, I.Romaine, S.Mukuddem, D.Leverock, K.Hurdle, D.Minors, R.Steede, D.Morgan, J.Robinson, C.Foggo, G.Strange, H.Durham, R.Trott.: Bermuda v Canada, August 23 to 25; Bermuda v Cayman Islands, August 27 to 29. Both matches scheduled for Toronto Cricket Club.