Talented St. David?s duo Delyone Borden and OJ Pitcher have been brought back into the national team fold as the selectors unveiled two strong looking squads for Bermuda?s upcoming tours to both Trinidad and the UK yesterday.

Despite having only just returned home for the summer holidays from university in Florida, Borden ? a gifted offspinning allrounder ? has been selected for both trips while Pitcher will be going to the UK and is a standby for Trinidad.

Meanwhile, Janeiro Tucker has been re-appointed as captain in place of Irving Romaine, who skippered the side during the 20-20 World Cricket Classic, while exciting fast bowling prospect George O?Brien jr has also been included in both squads.

Young lefthanded batsman Treadwell Gibbons jr and Azeem Pitcher have also been retained from the 20-20 Classic squad as national coach Gus Logie looks to give two highly-rated players a further opportunity to shine.

Bermuda will play their first ever One-Day Internationals at the Queen?s Park Oval in Port of Spain, against Canada on May 17 and a weakened Zimbabwe side the following day.

Commenting on the selections yesterday, national coach Gus Logie said he had no doubts whatsoever that both Borden and Pitcher would be capable of performing, regardless of the fact that neither had played any cricket over the winter.

The inclusion of Borden, he added, would give the team an additional and much-needed spinning option in Trinidad where the wickets tend to favour the slower bowlers, while also adding depth to the batting.

Pitcher and Borden are widely regarded as the best young cricketers Bermuda have at their disposal and both played an important role in the side?s World Cup qualifying campaign at the ICC Trophy in Ireland.

?It?s true that they have not been playing any cricket,? Logie said.

?But they were given fitness programmes to pursue during their time away and having had a look at them since their return, I?ve got no concerns about them at all. Delyone?s offspin will give us something extra in Trinidad while it also gives us a chance to strengthen the batting as well.

?Both will have had a few weeks practice before they play any national team games so I don?t think there should be any concern.?

Fears that O?Brien had sustained a stress fracture in his back during a three-month playing stint in Australia earlier this year have been allayed following an MRI scan, and Logie is looking forward to the prospect of seeing Bermuda?s quickest bowler ? and the destroyer of Somerset in last year?s Cup Match ? in action at national team level for the first time.

?I think George enjoyed his time in Australia and certainly all the reports we?ve received suggest that he worked hard down there and got a lot out of the experience,? he said.

?Having had a look at him in the nets recently, I don?t think there is any doubt that he is the quickest bowler we?ve got at the moment and during his time in Australia I think he was able to begin to understand the basics of fast bowling in terms of his action, his fitness levels and his professionalism and since he has come back he has looked pretty good. I?m happy to have him included.?

In general, the squads appear to be the strongest available, with gangly seamer Ryan Steede missing the Trinidad trip because of educational commitments and allrounder Lionel Cann ruling himself out of the UK tour because of work.

Young quick Stefan Kelly, who was part of the squad for the recent training camp in Trinidad, has not been selected because, according to chairman of selectors Arnold Manders, they did not want to interrupt his revision for summer exams at boarding school in England.

Team captain Clay Smith will accompany the squad throughout their time away, though his knee will not be fully rehabilitated until August.

On the captaincy issue, Logie admitted there had been some debate during Wednesday?s selection meeting over whether Romaine should be retained ? though the decision was eventually made to reinstate Tucker to a role he has fulfilled with consummate ease during Smith?s frequent absences from the side.

?There was some discussion about the captaincy,? Logie said.

?As I said before the 20-20, the decision was made to let Irving do it so that Janeiro could find his feet again after a long honeymoon. We have spoken with both of them about it and they are both happy with the situation as it now stands. The good thing is that we do not have a leadership problem in our team.?

Asked for an injury update, Logie revealed that both Tucker and Cann were carrying minor niggles but were expected to be fit following a week of rest and intensive physiotherapy.

Cann was forced to sit out the 20-20 Classic final after straining his groin on the slippery artificial surface during the semi-final against England, but the medical team have assured selectors that the injury is far from serious.

The skipper also looked to be struggling somewhat last week with slight tendonitis in his left knee, but once again this is not expected to stop him playing a full part.

Neither are to be permitted to play for their club sides in the first round of two-day matches starting this weekend.