Clay is wrong, it was tougher

I am amazed at my buddy Clay Smith’s comments that the just concluded World Cricket League Division 2 wasn’t harder than the 2005 World Cup qualifiers.

I was totally shocked.

It’s not too often will I go against his judgment as he has a good cricketing brain but this time he is sadly wrong.

I played in both tournaments.

The teams were far better in this lower group.

We played against the likes of Namibia, UAE, Uganda, Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea.

In 2005 our group consisted of Ireland, UAE, Uganda, US, and Denmark.

Relegated

Not only did Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea give the US and Denmark a cricket lesson in January just to qualify for the WCL Division 2 tournament but Oman and Italy also schooled them.

As a result both the US and Denmark were relegated to

Division 4.

Secondly, Namibia is a team Bermuda has never beaten.

Thirdly, Uganda beat Kenya last year — another team that Bermuda has never beaten.

Next, the tournament was held in Dubai where the ball swings for 10 overs then spins for 40 overs.

This means that all the associate teams will struggle to make runs. There weren’t too many high totals.

I’ll admit this team wasn’t as talented as the 2005 team, but is was better prepared and fitter.

The ‘05 team was far more experienced and therefore was able to qualify against the likes of the US and Denmark.

I remember talking to the cricketers who played in the 70’s, they use to say we never lost to the Ireland, Scotland, or the Netherlands.

Now we have cricketers saying we are sick because we lost to Paupa New Guinea. The facts are simple, the ICC has opened cricket up to the globe and teams are taking advantage of it.

Papua New Guinea contracted 20 players and took them to the top training facilities in Australia over the past year.

Hong Kong and the UAE have so many Indians, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans playing for them now.

With the way the sport has globalized we will struggle to make it back to the top, we will have to change our cricketing culture.

I am not ready to hang up my bat for Bermuda yet. I want to stay around for at least 18 months and help us get back to Division 2.

After that happens, I’ll have to see if I want to continue playing internationally.

I was really shocked to find out so many players haven’t signed up for the Elite Cricket League.

That’s a real problem.

If we want to get to the Twenty20 World Cup we have to take advantage of this opportunity.

Other countries in the world would be begging to have this chance but our players don’t seem interested.

Former Premier Ewart Brown said “Strive to be the best in the world, don’t strive to be the best in Bermuda.”

We can’t possibly move forward if players don’t want to represent Bermuda n a World Cup.