St.David?s and St.George?s Cup Match fast bowler George O?Brien was sensationally axed from Bermuda?s national cricket team yesterday.

O?Brien was thrown out of the national programme after breaking probation conditions laid down last July following a training exercise in Antigua where the fiery bowler, not for the first time, landed himself in hot water.

A lack of ?quality or commitment in training? also contributed to O?Brien?s demise, according to a Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) press release.

Yesterday?s revelation marked a bitter end to a year that saw O?Brien attend cricket studies in Australia, debut for the Island?s senior national team in Trinidad last May and then compete at the inaugural Stanford 20/20 Tournament in Antigua in July.

The temperamental right-arm paceman claimed the most wickets (seven) during Bermuda?s triumphant tour of Toronto in August and overall snared a total of ten wickets in five One-Day Internationals (ODI).

O?Brien was among four reserve players on stand-by for the national team?s tour of Kenya and South Africa next month.

But a poor work ethic and a lack of motivation and commitment to Bermuda?s World Cup cause has now put paid to the hopes of one young individual who promised so much, according to senior Board executive Gary Fray.

?It?s just unfortunate he had all the opportunities as a young person to travel abroad and things like that,? Fray told last night.

?He went to Australia on a training exercise earlier this year, but hasn?t really committed himself since. And I think this is very unfortunate and personally I expected more from him ? especially after giving him all of the opportunities to improve.

?I was sort of set back when I heard that he hadn?t improved. And I guess that?s when the executive finally decided that enough was enough.

?I think the decision was disheartening for all of the executive to make because he was given enough opportunities ? but showed no real interest or commitment. So that?s why the executive decided to do what they?ve done.

?We wish him well but at the national level for the World Cup we need one hundred percent-plus commitment from every individual player.

?This is what we are looking for and most of them are giving just that. But it?s just unfortunate O?Brien chose to do less.?

Bermuda Cricket Board made the announcement confirming O?Brien?s omission late yesterday afternoon via a short statement which read: ?The BCB wishes to announce that in breech of the probationary conditions set out on July 12, 2006, that Mr.George O?Brien has been removed from the national squad as of today.

?Due to continued poor effort and lack of quality or commitment in training the BCB has no other choice but to terminate Mr.O?Brien?s contract.?

The BCB will be holding their first prize presentation in several years this evening at the Ocean View Golf Club, beginning at 7 p.m.