Bermuda will never be able to place its best cricket team on the field if players refuse to put aside personal differences.

So said top allrounder Lionel Cann of St. David's, as further revelations were made regarding star opening batsman and former Bermuda captain Albert Steede's decision to back out of the squad to travel to Canada for the Americas Regional Tournament.

Sources have indicated Steede's withdrawal to be a direct result of his inability to play under captain Charlie Marshall. And while Cann was unable to disclose details regarding Steede and Marshall, he felt such personality clashes were prevalent in the game and a definite cause for concern.

"I don't know what he dropped out for and it's not for me to elaborate on the issue,'' said Cann, who today flies out with the rest of the St. David's squad for a tour of England, where they will take part in the Millennium Tournament involving several club sides from around the world. "Obviously he's going to be a miss in any side.

"I have no problems with Charlie. I get along with anybody as skipper, that's something you have to do whether you like the person or not.

"When I was younger I used to hold grudges against people and stuff like that, and say I wasn't playing with this person and that person. But that's what we, Bermudians, need to grow out of, having grudges at people.

"It's a big problem and the sooner we get rid of that the sooner we can always count on having our best 11, or we'll always stay at one level.

"It's so easy right now to get to the World Cup with the potential of players that we have, (but) it's a conflict of interest and personalities getting in the way.'' It is believed that Steede's `grudge' against Marshall goes back to last year when Marshall blasted the team after their winless venture to the Red Stripe competition in Jamaica, accusing some of being "local cricketers''. And indeed Steede has been placed in that category by many observers, as his heavy domestic run-scoring has not been repeated overseas.

Yet Cann agreed with Marshall's assessment, noting that certain guys simply get intimidated when up against "brand name'' opposition, rather than play their game and treat the opposition as they would normally.

"It's true what (Charlie) said, I've even seen it playing with certain players. It's alright playing at the low standard we have in Bermuda -- and the standard is on the up -- but you have a lot of players that show all the heart and determination in Bermuda, yet when you get them overseas they're like little mice. ..you can't even hear them.

"All they talk about is who's playing, whether it be (Curtly) Ambrose or Courtney Walsh. They get frightened, rather than taking up the challenge.

"I've seen it happen on many tours...and I've seen it happen with Albert too. I've seen him down in the West Indies and fail game after game. Then you have someone arrogant like Clay Smith out there making runs, mouthing off to these guys, telling Walsh where he's going to hit him and doing it.

"Guys just need a little bit more heart and determination.'' Steede has thus far refused to comment on his decision to drop out, while Marshall could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Albert Steede: star batsman who refuses to play under captain Charlie Marshall.