The Bermuda Cricket Board of Control this week trimmed the national squad roster from 25 to 17, with prolific batsman Albert Steede a casualty of the cut.

Steede, who only recently returned to reckoning after begging off the side for tour of Canada to participate in the Americas Cup, was absent from the list of names that will train ahead of the Red Stripe Bowl in the Caribbean next month.

It is believed that a severe lack of form shown by the Western Stars opening bat along with some lingering residue regarding his previous withdrawal of services played roles in the omission.

BCBC president El James last week expressed his happiness at having the player back in the programme and available for selection, however it appears that he will take a position on the team later, rather than sooner. In fact three of the top four batsmen according to statistics find themselves on the outside peering in, with Steede, Glenn Blakeney and Keith Wainwright blocked entry.

All the more befuddling is the fact that Wainwright and Blakeney both rate as opening batsmen, spots that require filling, with the top two positions tragic failures during the most recent tour.

Blakeney, a ruthless stroke maker tallied 655 runs -- third most among all batsmen -- at a rate of 59.54 this year, including two centuries, while the late-blooming Wainwright's 917 (61.13 average) placed second only to Steede's 1,155 (72.18 average).

Instead the selection committee elected for the likes of Sheridan Ming and Jermaine Warner as competition for Curtis Jackson and Dennis Archer at the top of the order.

Meanwhile, other additions include Willow Cuts' Richard Basden, something of a surprise considering the allrounder was out injured most of the season, wicketkeeper Dean Minors and gritty allrounder Mark Ray.

Omissions include a trio of youngsters -- middle order bat O.J.Pitcher, leg-break bowler Justin Robinson and off-spinner Stephen Outerbridge.

Squad: Charlie Marshall, Jermaine Warner, Dennis Archer, Clay Smith, Janeiro Tucker, Richard Basden, Kwame Tucker, Dean Minors, Dennis Pilgrim, Wendell White, Herbie Bascome, Mackie Crane, Hasan Durham, Mark Ray, Sheridan Ming, Lionel Cann, Curtis Jackson.