BCB hits star player for six

Deunte Darrell’s international cricket career has been put in cold storage.

The immensely talented Willow Cuts and Somerset Cup Match all-rounder has been banned by Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) from playing international cricket for six months, and placed on probation until October 2011.

The teenage cricketer had sanctions imposed on him by a BCB disciplinary committee for breaching the Board’s rigid code of conduct while representing Bermuda Under-19s at this summer’s Sir Garry Sobers Tournament in Barbados.

Appeal

Darrell landed himself in hot water with local cricket’s governing body for allegedly breaking ­curfew and the BCB’s non-drinking policy during a tour of the Caribbean island.

It is understood the ­player’s parents intend to appeal against the ruling on his behalf.

But Darrell’s suspension has now deprived Bermuda’s Under-19s — currently preparing for February’s ICC (International Cricket Council) 2012 Under-19 World Cup qualifiers — of one of the team’s leading lights.

Bermuda Under-19 coach Andre Manders said the Willow Cuts all-rounder’s services will be missed in Florida.

“It’s not good to lose a batsman of Deunte’s calibre, but we have to just try and move along and hopefully the other guys will step it up in his absence,” he said.

Coaches Manders, Clevie Wade and David Moore have been putting a ­provisional training squad of 18 players through their paces during weekly practice sessions.

A training camp has also been scheduled for later this month with a second in the New Year, after which a final squad of 14 players will be tasked with helping Bermuda re-qualify for the ICC Under-19 World Cup.

Optimisim

Florida will host the Under-19 Americas Championships from February 3-8.

Bermuda faces regional rivals U.S., Canada, Cayman Islands, Bahamas and Argentina. Only the top two teams progress to the global qualifiers, in Ireland next July.

Six teams then advance to the 2012 ICC Under-19 World Cup in Argentina.

Bermuda made its first appearance at Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia in 2007. But much has changed since then with U.K.-based all-rounder Greg Maybury the sole surviving member of the squad.

But Manders is optimistic Bermuda can qualify.

He said: “I think we have a realistic chance of qualifying.

“A lot of these boys have lots of experience playing Premier Division cricket, while five of them (Damali Bell, Christian Burgess, Kamau Leverock, Joshua Gilbert and Kevon

Fubler) are also training with the senior national team.” Manders is encouraged by their bowling.

But he added: “From my point personally I think we need to work on our ­batting a bit more.

“I noticed that when we were in Barbados (the Sir Garfield Sobers Tournament) we were knocking teams down cheap but struggling to get the runs.

“But we have a good bowling attack, with a variety of bowling with Joshua as our spinner and seam bowlers Greg Maybury, Damali and Kevon, just to name a few.

“We have a good bowling attack, but we definitely need to work on our batting. Our fielding is going to be important too.”