In an Island-wide hunt for "suitable clay" desperately required to create a wicket that meets International Cricket Council (ICC) standards, trustees of the National Sports Centre (NSC) have solicited the public's direct input to assist them in their quest.

Following a highly critical assessment by top ICC wicket expert Andy Atkinson in 2004 and further criticism from legendary West Indies Test spinner Lance Gibbs, chairman of the Board of Trustees for the NSC, Dr.Gerard Bean, stated: "We are appealing to those persons who believe that they can assist us in this process of locating suitable Bermuda clay to provide us with specific and precise information on its whereabouts.

"In light of considerable public discussion and debate surrounding the cricket wicket here at the NSC the trustees have decided to exhaust every possible avenue to determine whether or not the clay we need can in fact be found in Bermuda.

"With this aim we we are now seeking assistance from the general public who may know of areas where this clay exists to help us to find it and determine whether or not the clay is suitable for the construction of an international cricket wicket."

All samples provided will be tested in the UK to determine whether or not they meet ICC specifications, added Bean.

After consulting with former South Africa Test player Ali Bacher, trustees set about laying the existing strip at the NSC in 1998.

In 2003 the playing surface received a ringing endorsement from then West Indies skipper Brian Lara. However, one year later ? during the Americas Championships (ICC Trophy qualifiers) held on local clay ? the strip had noticeably deteriorated to the point where batsmen began complaining about balls standing up from a good length.

Concerns about the pitch further escalated when the West Indies and Barbados toured the Island in September of 2004, West Indies touring manager Tony Howard telling "the dusty strip was not conducive to One-Day cricket" after the two Caribbean teams could only muster a combined 256 runs on the controversial batting track.

"For a one-day game the amount of turn and bounce the pitch offered was not appropriate while it was also very two-paced and hard to play shots on. In those conditions posting large totals was always going to be to be difficult," Howard argued.

In the wake of these damning assessments, top local groundsman Sheridan Raynor pointed the finger at what he deemed as a grossly inadequate layer of top dressing that had been applied to the surface early 2004 prior to Lloyds Cricket Club's visit in June and July's Americas Championships which saw Bermuda qualify for the ICC Trophy, and also a lack of nature's very own binding agent worm cast.

While recommendations clay should be imported from overseas have been made, Government have yet to relax strict existing laws prohibiting the importation of foreign clay.

Flanked by NSC head curator Trevor Madeiros at yesterday's press conference held in the cricket pavilion at the Sports Centre's northern field, Bean continued: "The clay should be virgin or undisturbed taking into account such factors such as the physical and chemical composition of the clay and its actual location."

Bean envisions ten to five truck loads or approximately ten cubic yards of clay will suffice to get the NSC's batting strip up to ICC playing standards.

"We look forward to working with members of the public in trying to identify suitable Bermuda clay for our needs," he said, adding "Obviously various time constraints mean that we are interested in hearing from the public as soon as possible, and within the seven days."

Members of the general public who can assist are asked to call Clifford Wade on 295-8085.