January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Country should always come first
I don't care if it is just one week, how can we be putting domestic games before the World Cup?
Country should always come first. Always.
If we are going to go forward as a country we need to start thinking bigger than our domestic competitions.
Friendship Trophy games shouldn't even come into the equation when there is a World Cup match around the corner.
It was upsetting to me, coming from an ex-national coach (Kyle Lightbourne).
He must know the commitment it takes to compete at national level.
He might say the game is four weeks away but that is not a long time when you are trying to prepare for a different level of competition.
National squads have enough problems getting players to training without this.
FA Cups, league titles, don't mean anything compared to representing your country.
Every player should be putting international competition first and the clubs should be instilling that in them.
Amateur national teams need all the time they can get together before a big game.
Even missing one session can make a huge difference. It's a bonding thing.
People see local sports as a big thing. Your ace boy scores a hundred in a domestic game or a hat-trick in a local soccer match and he thinks he's done great
We've got to think bigger than that. We need to get out of that mindset and start seeing representing your country as the ultimate, because that is what it is.
The cricketers are going to have a similar choice when Cup Match comes up this year. Do they play Cup Match or represent Bermuda at the World Cup 20-20 qualifiers.
I'm still hoping to play both but if the dates don't change I can tell you I will play for Bermuda.
It's a big thing for me, because I am captain of St. George's at the moment, but Bermuda is on the world stage and I would have to put that first.
Stanford
I've enjoyed every minute of the Stanford 20-20 tournament and it was great to see Trinidad win on Sunday night.
I have to point out that our game with Guyana lasted longer than the final, which goes to show that even a team of professionals like Jamaica can have a bad day.
A lot of good things came out of this tournament.
Some of the more established players, like Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, did not do very well but a lot of the younger guys got chance to showcase their talent.
My player of the tournament was Dave Mohammed from Trinidad. Batsmen just couldn't pick him.
It was great to see the opener Wayne Perkins playing well again. He had a problem with alcohol and almost quit the game a few years ago but he is an amazing talent and has a lot to offer.
I also liked the left-hander from Nevis - Browne.
People are excited about 20-20 and I think we'll get a lot of fans travelling with us next time. There is a real buzz about this tournament.
Hopefully we'll get an easier draw next time, though the way things are going we'll probably get Trinidad.[[In-content Ad]]
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