The axe has fallen on another of the Island's top cricketers, with prolific early order batsman Glenn Blakeney being dismissed from the Bermuda national squad, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Coming on the heels of confirmation that top allrounder Lionel Cann had been dropped, Blakeney confirmed that he had recently received a letter from the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control stating that he was no longer a part of their plans for the upcoming ICC Trophy competition, set to be hosted by Canada in June.

While admitting to have not been in attendance during training sessions, Blakeney expressed amazement regarding the Board's decision, and intimating that several mitigating circumstances in his favour had not been considered.

"This is a big tournament and for me to commit myself I have to take care of personal matters first,'' said Blakeney, a team-mate of Cann at St. David's.

"I'm one of the few players in the squad that is married and my family comes first.

"I'm not getting paid anything and I have to deal with my family before I can fully take on the responsibility of committing myself to the team, and, if this professional organisation is concerned enough, they could at least pick up the phone and call myself, or any other player, and ask why we're not showing any interest in training or whatever the case may be.

"The squad was off from training for the majority of December due to the Christmas holiday and resumed last month, but I still don't think that's just reason to drop me, because the hard training hasn't started and the national coach isn't even here yet.'' Blakeney mentioned that he had, up until recently, been bothered by his chronically sore hamstring, which is now recovered.

Continued on page 15 Blakeney's frustration Continued from page 13 Blakeney added that the responsibility of raising a young child -- he has a three-year-old daughter -- while his wife spends extra time working to promote a fledgling small business meant that his time for training was limited.

Moreover, he pointed to the grace being afforded new national coach Roland Butcher, regarding his delayed arrival on the Island to take up the post, while he sorts out personal matters in England.

"No, I haven't trained at all due to my (hamstring) injury, which is much better now, that and the fact that I have a family, a young child that I have to cater to and take care of ... these things come first,'' continued Blakeney, who finished last season with the third highest scoring average of 59.54 from 14 innings.

"They're saying that the national coach has to take care of personal matters, and so do I, because we all have to take care of personal matters.

"Quite frankly, the relationship between the board and myself hasn't been what it should be, so me calling the cricket board and telling them my situation wasn't even a thought.

"I didn't let them know, but, as a professional organisation, they should have shown some concern and called me. Instead they sent me a letter saying that for the ICC and onwards I will not be considered for selection.

"I'm not looking to fault anybody in all of this, there's just been a lack of communication.'' Many were looking at Blakeney as one part of the solution to the troublesome situation of finding a formidable opening pairing, with Blakeney's aggressive style well suited to taking advantage of the fielding restrictions involved in the one-day format during the first 15 overs.

And with Cann -- another of those ideally suited to the limited-overs format -- also gone, Blakeney alluded to Bermuda perhaps not sending away their best, and having to rely on precious few to supply the bulk of the runs.

"While I take nothing from the players involved in the squad, because they all deserve to be there based on having good season, it will boil down to a few being asked to do a lot,'' he said.

"Charlie (Marshall), Clay (Smith) and Janeiro (Tucker) will have to do the bulk of the batting and these guys will be asked to be consistent day to day.

"Guys such as Lionel and myself, with the attitudes we have with regard to one-day cricket, thrive on stuff like this, being given opportunities to perform at the international level ... it's what we live for.

"This hasn't been easy for me, because I had my sights set on this, only to be let down. They say they did it in the best interests of the team, so I have to go with it, but I would want them to know that I have my bags packed and if they want to put me on stand-by or whatever I'll be there.''