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Cann ready to reap more rewards

Trophy scheduled for Kenya in January and February.And while the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control is unwilling to release the names of the players until they have been notified of their selection,

Trophy scheduled for Kenya in January and February.

And while the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control is unwilling to release the names of the players until they have been notified of their selection, and in turn given the opportunity to respond to the invitation, one name believed to be included in that list is St. George's colt and promising all-rounder Lionel Cann.

Cann's inclusion will not come as a surprise since he has been having an outstanding season with his club, St. David's. The 20-year-old has put competing in the ICC high on his list of priorities and is making it no secret that he intends to take full advantage of the opportunity.

"If I am chosen then I will be fully interested, it would definitely be my next goal after making Cup Match for the first time. I would be happy to be a part of the programme and I would be totally committed to it,'' said Cann.

Cann was virtually an automatic choice for Cup Match and as the island's best young all-rounder it would be a surprise if he is overlooked for a place in the Bermuda team. As he showed in Cup Match he is a potential match winner with either the bat or ball or as an outstanding fielder in the deep.

His improved batting this season has impressed his club to the degree that they have promoted him higher up in their batting order from the usual eight or ninth batting spot he has occupied for the past few years. Last weekend in the Eastern Counties he batted at number four ahead of such established batsmen as Albert Steede and Allen Richardson.

Cann's medium pace bowling has also been appreciated to the degree that he has even been handed the new ball on occasion, including in Cup Match, after usually being used as second or third change.

"Yes, it's been a great season for me so far. Making Cup Match has been a highlight, now I am hoping that I can make the final 16 for the ICC. The altitude there is high and the team is going to need some young players like myself combined with some of the experienced players,'' said Cann.

"I don't feel that there should be any trouble in making it because I strongly feel that I should be looked at as being one of the top players in the island. I've been pretty consistent,'' he added.

The confident all-rounder insisted that local fans have not seen the best of him yet, pointing out that once he gets a few more seasons under his belt there is no telling what accomplishments he can reach.

Cann still has not made his debut for his country at senior level, having been chosen in the squad for the last Bermuda match against the West Indies Board XI at St. David's only to be named as substitute alongside another promising youngster Dean Minors.

Cann played for his country at youth level, in the International Youth Tournament in England in 1989.

Two years later he was to lead the team for the next tournament but was left out for disciplinary reasons though there was never a hearing. He stayed at home while the team, under Davon Wade, finished second to England in Winnipeg, Canada.

But Cann is ready to put those days behind him now and prepare for what appears to be an exciting career ahead of him in cricket at the senior level.

"At St. David's I've spent a lot of years playing in the shadows of some great players, now I am finally getting a chance to show my stuff. In Cup Match I think I proved that I am a player of class.'' BEST IS YET TO COME -- Lionel Cann's outstanding season means that an invitation for 25-man ICC squad won't come as a surprise.