Seam bowler Dennis Archer?s inclusion in Bermuda?s ICC Trophy squad has not gone down well with one of the Island?s greatest ever all-rounders.

Former Bailey?s Bay skipper Noel Gibbons, a veteran of five ICC Trophy tournaments and scorer of an unbeaten 124 against Hong Kong in 1986 in the UK, was left completely stumped yesterday over the decision by the national team selectors to go with Archer instead of fellow all-rounder Corey Hill or St.David?s in-form batsman Chris Foggo.

?Obviously I don?t have anything personal against him (Archer) but what has he done ever since he first began playing for Bermuda?? asked Gibbons.

?When you look at it the selectors did not have a big pool of players to pick from and I think they picked the best team they could. However, my only real concern is Archer,? Gibbons added

?Chris is batting very well at the moment and it?s unfortunate he did not get picked and I would have certainly picked Chris over Archer. The team already have plenty of bowlers and so I would have taken Chris as an extra batsman. So why omit a batsman who is in very good form at the moment in favour of Archer.?

After smashing 74 runs against Western Stars on May 8, Foggo followed that knock with a century (106) against St.George?s last weekend at Wellington Oval. Archer, in contrast, went wicketless for 25 runs after three overs and managed 16 runs during Stars? seven-wicket loss to Southampton Rangers at St.John?s Field.

Foggo was named on a list of four national team players on standby for the ICC Trophy. Also on that are Kwame Tucker, Hasan Durham and Wendell White.

As for Bay stalwart Hill, Gibbons stated: ?I thought Corey would have been Bermuda?s best bowler on tour. Corey swings the ball big here and so I thought he would have really done well playing in different atmospheric conditions in Ireland.

?But once again it?s the selection committee?s choice why he is not going and overall I think the team is balanced and I hope they do well.?

Gibbons, however, remains concerned over the genuine status of skipper Clay Smith?s injury.

?I am honestly quite concerned about that because over the years we have been playing in the ICC one of our players always seems to break down.

?I can remember Clarence Parfitt pulling up with a hamstring injury in my first ICC Trophy (1979) and then I can also recall Adrian King and Clevie Wade breaking down injured.

?Every time we are doing well at the ICC one of our best players breaks down, and I would hate to see Clay go over there and break down. But this is something that always seems to occur with our better players.?

One player, in particular, Gibbons is pleased to see make the grade is former Atherstone CC team-mate, Ryan Steede.

Steede also accompanied Bermuda to Toronto for last year?s ICC Inter Continental Cup Tournament.

?We played in England (at Atherstone) two years ago and I thought his bowling came on one hundred percent,? the former Bay skipper said. ?I thought he bowled quite well in England and I was impressed by how he bowled in those conditions.?