Lightbourne keen to set the pace for Somerset
Kyle Lightbourne is attempting to break into Somerset?s Cup Match team.
And the former English professional footballer isn?t bowling leg breaks either.
Instead, the left-handed Lightbourne has reverted to medium fast bowling, and, according to club sources, has looked good whipping them off the seam in training.
The PHC all-rounder previously represented Somerset in the annual mid-summer classic from 1988 to 1990.
Lightbourne, Bermuda?s current national football coach, also accompanied the Island to the 1990 ICC Trophy Tournament in Holland before embarking on a professional career in the UK with nine different clubs in 1992.
?When I returned from England I received a letter from Somerset Cricket Club who invited me to train and I obliged. And so I intend to give it my best shot and then see what happens from there,? Lightbourne told
During his debut for Somerset in 1988, Lightbourne went wicketless at Wellington Oval but returned to the East End the next year to claim his first Cup Match victim ? St.George?s skipper Wendell Smith ? during a tame draw.
In his final match before signing on at Scarborough, Lightbourne claimed two St.George?s first innings wickets at Somerset Cricket Club.
When asked how does he fancy his chances of returning to the classic after a 15-year hiatus, Lightbourne smiled: ?I don?t know if I have a realistic chance or not . . . but I certainly intend to put some pressure on people. I?ve enjoyed bowling these past couple training sessions. I?ve been getting the ball to move off the seam a little bit . . . gentle away swingers to a left-hander and the inswinger to the right hander.
?I must say I was a bit surprised to get invited to train for the team, though I?ve played a few games with PHC this summer averaging about two wickets per game.?
Lightbourne remains 11th on Bermuda?s top 20 list of bowlers in the ICC Trophy with 11 wickets at an average of 16. 82 and a best performance of three for 38.
?I haven?t been really giving up a lot of runs mixing it up between medium pace and spin,? he added.
Also challenging to regain a spot on the champion?s team is former opening bowler Kevin Hurdle, originally chosen to open the bowling for Bermuda?s successful ICC Trophy squad but later forced out through a nagging hamstring injury.
However, according to club sources, the player looks quite ?solid? in training.
Last year?s colt Jacobi Robinson, Wendell White, Lamar Caines, Corey Hill and Dennis Pilgrim are also trying to either retain or regain spots in Janeiro Tucker?s squad.
Looking ahead to Saturday?s final Cup Match trial match, Lightbourne added: ?It?s just a matter of me going out there and enjoying myself and then see where things go from there.?
Bermuda?s Under 19 youth squad thrashed Carriacou by 110 runs in a rain affected affair at Ellerton Cricket Grounds in St.George, Barbados yesterday.
Inspiring the local boys to their third win of the Sir Gary Sobers School Tournament were skipper Oronde Bascome who scored his second straight half century and medium pacers Kearon Trott and Dennico Hollis who took three for nine and two for 18 respectively.
Bascome, who hit three sixes and five fours in his top knock of 50 runs exactly, put on 77 runs in 11 overs with Rodney Trott (11).
But once the pair were removed Bermuda slumped from 91 for two to 110 for seven in the space of 24 balls in light rain showers, according to assistant coach Andre Manders.
However, thanks to a 53-run stand lower down the order between Malachi Jones (18) and Hollis (six) and a generous Carriacou side that gave up 49 runs in extras, Bermuda managed to post a respectable total.
Bailey?s Bay player Kearon Trott also chipped in with a useful ten runs at the rear.
In reply, Carriacou were skittled out for 53 runs in 23 overs with Trott and Hollis backed up in the bowling by Jones, Justin Pitcher, Sean Perinchief and Lamar Richardson who each took one wicket apiece.
Bermuda take on Dominica School today.