Left-hander Wendell Smith has shown that despite being sidelined for two years following arthroscopic surgery for chronic knee problems he has lost none of the skills that made him Bermuda's most successful Cup Match batsman.

Smith marked his comeback on Sunday at the age of 35 with an unbeaten 46 that spurred his club, St. George's, to a seven-wicket Premier Division victory over Somerset, dispelling fears that he wouldn't be able to reproduce his best form after such a lengthy lay-off.

The message for any doubters was clear -- Smith is back! "I felt very relaxed out there, no sort of discomfort from my surgery,'' said Smith yesterday. "I became confident early because I was provided with two half-volleys, maybe in my second over, that I punched through the covers for four and after that I felt fine.

"It was a matter of just keeping the mental aspect of my game together.

Batting is just a mental thing. If you are on a good wicket you have to get yourself out, it's as simple as that.'' A long-time physical education teacher at Dellwood before leaving to further his studies overseas, Smith quietly went about the task of helping his team establish stability after the loss of an early wicket.

And his immediate success must have delighted his team-mates and St. George's supporters, particularly with Cup Match just around the corner.

Smith is the highest aggregate scorer in Cup Match. In his last classic in 1992, when he captained the East Enders, he eclipsed the old record of 988 held by Lloyd James, taking his own total to 993.

His cricketing career, however, went into a spin not long after that match, when the knee injury forced him out of the game. First he was replaced as captain of the Bermuda ICC team while still considered the best leader and motivator in local cricket. And then he was forced to withdraw from the squad because of the injury, making only limited apperances for St. George's in key matches for the remainder of the year.

Last year, however, he missed the entire season, primarily because of his studies at the Miami of Ohio University. Now it remains to be seen just how much involved he will be in a sport that has played an important part of his life over the years.

He admits he was in two minds about returning to cricket.

"To be honest I hadn't made up my mind whether or not I was going to play cricket this year because my focus was more on my educational goals. Having been in college and doing so much intensive studying I was happy to just focus on that aspect of my life and personal family things, but there are a few factors that made me decide to come back.

"During three occasions that I returned home briefly from school there were so many questions asked of me about my return to cricket. I was oftren stopped in the street and asked `when are you coming back to play cricket?' I started to think that perhaps it meant more to the spectators than it meant to me.

Talks with St. George's fans proved that there were some who felt that if I was still able to play, then I should.

"I felt that there were a few supporters who had always been very loyal to me over the years and maybe this will be a way of having an encore so to speak.

"Another reason for coming back to the game was that there were a few people who said that I couldn't allow St. George's to struggle with quality players missing like my brother Clay, Dean Minors and Gregg Foggo. Also Kenny Phillips was having work commitments and not available on a regular basis. That's four front line players absent.'' Smith said he eventually realised that present skipper Graham Fox had served him well over the years and in return he should show his appreciation by giving similar support.

"I figured, if I can help the team then I may as well play, and that was the thinking behind my decision.'' Many fans will now be eager to hear how serious he intends to make his comeback and whether or not he will make an effort to get back into Cup Match.

"Gosh, that's a good question. Well, let me put it this way, while in college I read a few quotes and they made me think about whether or not I should challenge for a Cup Match place or not.

"One went this way, `what a man can be, he must be'; the other was `life is a short walk, so little time, so much to do.' "When reflecting on these quotes it made me realise that if you have a chance to accomplish something in life and leave your mark perhaps you should. So I will play to help the team. If I am making big scores and the skipper and selectors feel I should be included, then I guess I would play.

"I guess you can say domestically I am content with what's been accomplished.

But a lot of people keep harping on the fact that I need just seven runs in Cup Match to reach 1,000 and say that if I come back to chase after them it would be within my reach. But who knows.'' WENDELL SMITH -- `supporters have always been very loyal to me.'