Jones targets tighter Bermuda bowling unit

Pace bowler Malachi Jones urged his fellow bowlers to take more pride in their stats if Bermuda are to impress when the 50-over tournament gets under way on April 28.

Jones led the attack with aplomb in Fort Lauderdale and will be charged with doing a similar job with the ball on home soil.

He believes, though, that as a unit, there is work to be done if promotion to Division 2 is to be achieved.

He said: “As bowlers we need to take a little more pride in our personal statistics.

“I think as a Bermuda bowling unit we give up too many boundary balls at crucial points in the game. In the last 10 overs and in the first five or six in a 50-over game.

‘I think that is going to be very important because the middle stages we do quite well, coming together fielding and bowling but the start and the end is going to be the key points in the tournament because we don’t want to do a lot of hard work in the middle and give it away at the end.

“We need to stay focused on our lines and lengths — and do the simple things.

He added: “A lot of the teams are probably going to come with a lot of spinners. Our spinners, while not per se the best, I think they have the capabilities to do well and I think with a bit more confidence in their ability they’ll do okay.”

Jones also believes the Florida win over USA saw the team clear a mental hurdle.

He said “I’m feeling confident as an individual but as a team we’re in high spirits after Fort Lauderdale and the win against the USA, I think the team has confidence now we have the players to beat them.”

Lloyd Fray, president of the BCB, said: “This is big for us. 

“The World Cricket League Division Three is a chance to get promotion and hopefully qualify for the World Cup.

“I truly believe this trophy will be in our hands soon.”