'Leverock gives us hope'

FOR Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood, read Stuart Le Prevost and Justin Meades. Like England's two best one-day batsmen, the Guernsey pair have succumbed to the man who is set to become a cult hero at the World Cup in the West Indies.

Dwayne Leverock, the 19-stone left-arm spinner from Bermuda, has become a media sensation after he dismissed Pietersen and Collingwood during his team's warm-up game with England on Monday.

The next day, the 35-year-old, who is a jailer by profession, had a picture of his large frame splashed across the front of the Daily Telegraph and other national papers.

He was also interviewed on Sky Sports and he has answered questions from the public on a special blog set up on the BBC News website, revealing among other things that his favourite dish is beef korma.

But before all that attention, he was a member of the Bermudian squad who took on Guernsey in a two-match series at KGV last summer.

The visitors wrapped up both matches and among Leverock's victims was the new island captain, Le Prevost, whom he dismissed for 20 in the first game.

'He had me caught at long off when I was trying to go for the heave-ho,' said Le Prevost.

'I thought he was a very good bowler and he didn't give you many bad balls. He pressurised you into getting out.

'He's a good first slip fielder as well. He took a couple of sharp chances and he's pretty agile for a big guy.

'He definitely doesn't weaken their side at all, no matter what size he is.'

Big-hitting Mavericks batsman Meades also fell to Leverock in June.

'He got me out twice, but the second one was a dodgy lbw with his arm ball,' said the 27-year-old from Melbourne.

'He was by far their best bowler. I think he gives blokes like me hope because I'm no lightweight.

'I'm no fitness fanatic, but I like playing cricket. He says he does the work rate and good on him.

'It shows, no matter what size you are, if you're dedicated, you can get out there and do it. When you think of fat blokes who play cricket like David Boon, Darren Lehmann and Merv Hughes - being an Aussie it's not that rare.

'It's all change now in sport, but back in the 80s it was not much of a deal.'

Le Prevost, who is also on the big side, agrees with Meades's sentiments.

'It doesn't give us hope but for bigger guys it does say you can compete at the highest level,' he said.

'I wouldn't say he's a role model but fair play to him.'

In St Vincent on Monday, Leverock returned figures of two for 32 from his 10 overs.

He first had Collingwood caught behind, which he followed up by fooling Pietersen in the flight to have him stumped as England slumped to 132 for five. They did, though, go on to make 286 before bowling Bermuda out for 45.

Le Prevost believes that Leverock turned in a performance of which any world-class spinner would have been proud.

'Just look at how he bowled against England,' he said.

'When England faced him they got only 32 off his 10 and that's pretty good for anyone. If Shane Warne had gone for 32 from 10, he'd be pleased.

'It was only a friendly but England definitely wanted to win. But let's see how he fares in the main competition.'

Meades thinks that Leverock could be one of the stars of the tournament with the ball.

'I actually picked him in my World Cup dream team,' he said.

'I think just looking at the wickets they look a little bit underdone and those kinds of bowler will really clean up.'

After Guernsey was awarded international status in 2005, it is now theoretically possible for the island to copy Bermuda's achievements and make it to the World Cup themselves.

Le Prevost does not feel that Bermuda will make much of a mark on the tournament but they have given Guernsey inspiration.

'They've got a couple of spinners but I can't see them getting past the first stage,' said Le Prevost.

'It's good for Guernsey though to see them there because we've played them and the youngsters coming into the squad can think, ?in four or eight years' time, that could be us?. It's definitely something to aim for.'