Just a few months after resigning as captain of Bermuda's cricket team, Charlie Marshall is the surprise pick to lead the country into the forthcoming Americas Cup tournament.

The St. George's middle order bat, who led the side in their ill-fated ICC Trophy campaign last July, is, by his own admission, an "11th hour" appointment after bookmakers' favourite Clay Smith pulled out of the squad which was announced yesterday for next month's competition in Argentina.

Smith, one of four people believed to have been in the running, told Bermuda Cricket Board of Control (BCBC) by letter last Friday that he was not available after being summoned for an interview.

The St. David's player-coach, cited family commitments as his reasons for standing down.

The tournament, which was in doubt following civil unrest caused by the current financial crisis in Argentina, will go ahead after assurances from the Argentine Cricket Association and the United States Embassy in Buenos Aires.

Marshall, meanwhile, said he regarded his appointment as an honour and proved he was "doing something right".

"I handed in my resignation as captain just after the ICC tournament," he said. "They (the BCBC) have been going through a process of interviewing certain individuals who might be in a position to be captain of the team and my understanding is they were unsuccessful. "Just last week I got a call from Mr. President (El James). First of all he asked me `would I be interested in captaining the team?'

"I told him continue with your interviews and then get back to me and let me know how you made out."

Marshall made it clear that he originally had no intention of even playing, never mind being captain, and that it was only when approached by James and national coach Mark Harper that he became interested.

"I felt that (Canada) was going to be my last ICC tournament and I felt that there were other individuals who could have taken on the responsibility," he said.

His U-turn came about because the appointment was a matter of urgency, Marshall said – the tournament beginning in the first week of March.

"It was a do or die situation," he said. "They needed a captain for this team."

Harper called on Monday to ask Marshall if he would accept the role and after viewing the squad he said he would.

"I was concerned about the players. My concerns were about the players I would be working with. I did mention to him that I was looking forward to having as many young players in the team as possible," said Marshall, who added he had no actual input into who was picked.

It would appear he got his wish, though, with only eight players from the ICC tournament remaining for the trip to South America and the team incorporating a large element of youth.

Seasoned players Albert Steede, Janeiro Tucker, Herbie Bascome, Dwayne Leverock, Jermaine Postlethwaite, Hasan Durham, Irving Romaine and Dennis Pilgrim have been joined by youngsters OJ Pitcher, Chris Foggo, Jacobi Robinson, Jekon Edness and Stephen Outerbridge.

"When I received the squad I looked at it and then called him (Harper) back and said `yes' I would take the team," Marshall said.

"I'm looking forward to working with the younger players that are going to represent their country for the first time."

These players were the future of cricket in Bermuda, he said.

"The next ICC tournament is four years from now and we need to make a start now," Marshall said. "These young players need to make a contribution to their country now because other countries have actually started grooming their younger players since the last ICC tournament."

On a personal level, Marshall said despite not expecting to travel he had kept himself fit and was ready to go.

"I have been keeping myself in shape since September in the Olympic Club," he said. "This is the best shape I have been in in 30 years. I wouldn't want to be quoted on how much but I have lost some pounds and I haven't been in better shape since I was ten years old."

As far as the tournament itself was concerned, Marshall said he was confident Bermuda could put in a worthy performance.

"What we lacked in Canada was basically guys applying themselves during the matches," he said. "I think that was our downfall and led to us not qualifying.

"This time I am dealing with a totally different group of guys. Out of the ICC team we only have eight guys out of 14 so there is basically no comparison. I am working with a whole group of younger guys."

While focusing on youth is admirable it can have its downside on the international stage. But Marshall said that could be addressed.

"They are going to be lacking experience so that is where I and the other senior players have to come in to assist the younger players so they can gain that experience," he said.

As far as tactics were concerned, Marshall said he knew a lot about the majority of the teams Bermuda will be up against. "The US, Canada, Argentina and the Caymans we have played against in previous years," he said. "I know their strengths and weaknesses so I just have to analyse the Bahamas."

As to just how far the Island could go, Marshall said: "I think with the talent that we have that we can do well and we can make Bermuda proud."

Meanwhile, Canada and the United States have made three and five changes respectively to their squads for the Americas Cup from those which appeared at the ICC Trophy in Toronto, Canada last June.

For Canada, skipper Joe Harris and Australian based John Davison are both unavailable, while fast bowler, Dave Joseph is understood to have a foot injury.

They are replaced by former Guyana opener Fazil Sattaur, Abdul Samad and Sukhinder Rana. Nicholas De Groot, a veteran of 33 First Class games with Guyana, takes over as captain for this tournament. Harris is expected to resume the captaincy role for the Six Nations tournament in Namibia in April. Queenslander, Jeff Thomas, who coached Canada to a World Cup berth at the ICC Trophy, retains the role for this tournament.

At this stage, the Canadian squad intends to arrive in Africa for the Six Nations tournament a week ahead before it starts. They hope to play matches against Warwickshire and Northamptonshire who will be in South Africa for pre-season training.

Forty-eight year old Faoud Bacchus, who made his Test debut for West Indies against Australia in 1978, retains his place in the United States squad where he will act as player-coach for this tournament. The United States Cricket Association asked Bacchus to fill the coaching role while it continues its search for a permanent coach who will continue until the 2005 ICC Trophy. The USACA does not want to rush the appointment.

The five players newcomers are 19 year old Detroit based left hand opener, Amer Afzaluddin Ahmad, right arm fast bowler, Adrian Jordan, right arm off-spinner, Rudy Narine and Rafiq Patni, a wicket-keeper and middle order batsman.

The United States squad is: Amer Afzaluddin Ahmad (Detroit), Rohan Alexander (New York), Faoud Bacchus (Orlando) (player-coach), Denovan Blake (Boston), David Hoilett (Atlanta), Nasir Islam (Washington DC), Mark Johnson (Miami), Adrian Jordan (Boston), Rudy Narine (New York), Javed Nasir (Ft. Lauderdale), Rafiq Patni (Los Angeles), Richard Staple (New York) (Captain), Rashid Zia (Los Angeles), Joy J Zinto (Los Angeles).

The honour of captaining the Bahamas in their first official limited overs tournament at international level is Llewelyn Armstrong, a right hand batsman who bats at first drop, and is an economical medium pacer.

Another key player for the Bahamas is expected to be Whitcliff Atkinson, a left arm medium pacer who can also bowl spin turning both ways. Atkinson is said to be an attacking batsman, who can accelerate the scoring quickly, runs quickly between wickets and is apparently an excellent fielder.

The squad is: Llewellyn Armstrong (Captain), Jairam Mangra, Gary Armstrong, Gregory Taylor, Randolph Coakley, Edmund Lewis, Vianney Jacques, Whitcliff Atkinson, Dereck Gittens Jnr., Don Butler, John Mayers, Dwight Wheatley, Garcha Blair, Venris Bennett.

'Beyond The Test World' thanks Matt Westcott and Bermuda's Royal Gazette newspaper for providing the Bermudian content of this article

© ICC 2002