Two of Bermuda?s most experienced cricketers are being urged out of international retirement for one last hurrah.

When the Island?s team leave for the crucial International Cricket Council?s (ICC) Trophy in Ireland next July, national captain Clay Smith wants Albert Steede and Richard Basden on the plane with him.

Making a personal appeal to the pair yesterday, Smith noted Bermuda?s chances of success in the 12-team tournament ? in which the top five qualify for the 2007 Cricket World Cup ? would be significantly enhanced with them in the line-up.

?Two of Bermuda?s best players, Albert Steede and Richard Basden, are currently retired from international cricket but, as captain of the Bermuda team, I would seriously like them to reconsider their position and come out of retirement to be a part of a team that?s seeking to make history.

?We have a team that has the capability to qualify without them but, with them, our chances definitely improve,? said Smith, who is passionate about his mission of getting Bermuda into the cricketing spectacle in the Caribbean.

While noting that Steede is one who hardly changes his mind, the skipper stated that the Western Stars stalwart, like him, has long dreamt of qualifying for the World Cup. Steede came close ten years ago when he led Bermuda to fourth place in the qualifying tournament in Kenya. Only the top three teams advanced on that occasion.

In Smith?s opinion, the prolific and hard-hitting batsman ? as well as Steede?s club-mate Jermaine Postlethwaite ? could well solve Bermuda?s headache in the opening slot with Glenn Blakeney.

?One only has to look at this year?s Americas tournament to see we used at least four people in an effort to find a formidable partner for Glenn. That?s one area we really haven?t shored up yet.

?At Western Stars, Albert and Jermaine Postlethwaite have formed one of the best, if not the best, opening partnerships in the Island and hopefully we can get both of them to play a vital part in our preparations for Ireland, to come in and do a respectable job for us,? he said, adding that booking a World Cup place would be Steede?s crowning glory.

?Albert, I want to offer you one last chance to make your dream a reality by inviting you to come back and be a part of our training squad. You have put over 20 years into cricket and qualifying for the World Cup would put the icing on a career that has already been extremely successful.?

Turning his attention to Basden, Smith hailed the Willow Cuts captain as ?without a doubt one of Bermuda?s best all-rounders?.

?The thing I like most about Richard is his attitude. He has a never-say-die attitude and his passion for the game, along with his desire to win, is unbelievable.

?It is always good to have a person like this in your team because he brings so much confidence to any team.?

The captain hopes all players, including those who have declined national duty in recent years, will make themselves available for selection for this all-important tour and he has been actively soliciting their commitment.

?I?ve spoken with a number of players who I haven?t seen representing Bermuda in the recent past, mainly Jermaine Postlethwaite, Kwame Tucker, Janeiro Tucker, Gregg Foggo and Corey Hill.

?These are all players who I feel can make a difference ? a major contribution ? to the country. The only one who I want to see whom I haven?t seen as yet to speak to one-on-one is Dion Stovell. He is a young, very talented player who I feel can make a difference and he needs to know his value to the team.

?At that level you must have your best team out there. You have to be strong in every area and you must also have reserves who can come in and get the job done if somebody gets injured,? stressed Smith.

Among those he is counting on are the top contenders for the pivotal wicketkeeper/batsman position which also proved a problem throughout the summer. He anticipates that the likes of Dean Minors, Chris Foggo, Kwame Tucker and Jekon Edness ? who helped Bermuda to a draw in the Inter-Continental Cup in Canada ? will be eager to vie for that slot.

?We have wicketkeepers who can bat but we need all of them to come and apply themselves in training and challenge each other because that?s the only way they are going to get better, by challenging one another.?

Despite current headlines about apathy among national football selectees and sparse attendance at training, Smith is confident similar indifference will not beset cricket.

?My only fear is having too many players turn up to training this time around. I think players realise there?s so much at stake here and, for many of them, this could be their last opportunity of achieving this dream.

?I really think that once things are structured properly and presented in a professional manner we will get the players out, fully committed and ready to go.?