Smith `good enough' for Windies
honestly believes Athlete of the Year Clay Smith would not be out of place in the West Indies one-day team.
Randy Horton made that bold statement yesterday after attending Monday night's Awards Ceremony at the Hamilton Princess where Smith became the first cricketer to win the award, beating out sprinter Troy Douglas for the top honour.
Horton was also in Jamaica last October to see Smith handle some of the top fast bowlers in the Caribbean in the Red Stripe tournament on his way to scoring two centuries against the Windward Islands and Jamaica.
"When you look at the West Indies batsmen, he could make that side,'' said Horton.
"I don't say that lightly and I'm not being facetious at all. If he puts his mind to it and plays with the kind of temperament and control that he played with in that tournament, then he could go on and do wonders.'' As Bermuda compete as a separate entity in the ICC Trophy, which could have qualified them to play against the West Indies in the World Cup, the question of eligibility arises with no Bermudian having ever played for the West Indies.
"I don't know what the situation is in terms of a Bermudian being able to play but he certainly has the ability if there is an avenue that that could happen, particularly in one-day,'' added Horton.
"I think he can mix it up with the best that there is. His getting that award is indicative of his real performance. The performances down there were really, really outstanding and of international quality.'' As has been the case with the award winners in the past when the likes of Clarance (Nicky) Saunders, Brian Wellman, Peter Gray, Peter Bromby and Penny Simmons were honoured, an outstanding international performance was the common denominator.
"It's a big issue when you think of all the guys who are doing track and cycling,'' said Smith.
"You have to have something that is really outstanding to win this award and the panel actually thought that mine was good enough.'' Horton agreed. "I think Clay's performances were truly of an international standard. "He handled himself very comfortably against fast bowlers like Nixon McLean, Courtney Walsh, Patrick Patterson and Franklyn Rose, particularly against the Windwards and Jamaica where he scored his centuries.
He showed the temperament of a truly world class batsman. He's got a superb defence and a wonderful eye for the ball that is wayward.
"When we played in that tournament I don't think there was a batsman who was as talked about as much as Clay Smith. He was respected by all the bowlers there.'' But Bermuda failed to win any of their four matches, with their quarter-final game against Jamaica being abandoned because of rain after Bermuda had scored 193-7 and Jamaica were seven without loss in reply.
"That was an opportunity to prove, not to the rest of the Island but to myself, that -- given the opportunity -- I could play at this level, especially against Walsh and Rose in particular,'' said 27-year-old Smith.
"As we prepare to go back down to the Red Stripe I now realise what my capabilities are. I have set myself some very high standards, like possibly getting into the West Indies A team for starters. "Who knows what that could lead to.'' Smith's century against Jamaica made up for failing to score a ton against a touring Jamaica team at Wellington Oval in 1995.
In controversial circumstances he was left on 96 not out at the non-striker's end as St. George's achieved a seven-wicket triumph off four successive no-balls deliberately bowled by Jamaica captain Delroy Morgan to Arnold Manders.
Even his century in October against the Jamaicans came late in the Bermuda innings -- the last over in fact -- as he finished on 101 not out for an average of 104.00. The next best average by a Bermuda batsman was 18.75 by Arnold Manders.
While McLean is rated as the quickest of the West Indies fast bowlers, Smith regarded former Test bowler Patrick Patterson as the fastest he faced.
"I didn't want to be intimidated,'' Smith stressed. "To be honest that was my downfall in the very first match when I got out first ball.
"After that I decided to take it in stride and settle down. The wickets were exceptionally good.'' Smith is looking for more of the same when Bermuda compete again in the Red Stripe Bowl later this year.
He had been linked at the end of last season with a move to St. David's for the 1998 season after expressing his intention to give up the St. George's captaincy following last summer's Cup Match win. But now it looks as though he will be staying with St. George's, possibly in the role of captain again.
"As of right now I'll definitely be playing in St. George's this year,'' Smith confirmed. "As for the captaincy, having talked to a lot of the players they still want me to go ahead and do it. If the new committee that comes in wants me to take the job I think I'll do it.''