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As Bermuda's cricketers were hammered against Jamaica less than a fortnight ago, many Bermudian sports fans sat in front of their television screens, shaking their heads and asked - "Where did our $11 million go?"

The much-hyped investment in cricket in Bermuda has become a poisoned chalice for the national team to bear.

And with every defeat a new critic pops up to question the board, the commitment of the players and the wisdom of the investment.

BCB Chief Executive Neil Speight is the man tasked with ensuring the Government's money is spent sensibly and he is keen to redress the misconception that poor results, such as the nine-wicket defeat against Jamaica, mean the cash has been wasted.

First of all, he says, the BCB has not been given $11 million straight-up - it's a five-year investment.

Secondly, money doesn't make better players overnight, it will take time for the investment to filter through.

The exposure to higher class opposition has also meant tougher matches and therefore some bad results as players adjust to the top level - a necessary side effect of the improvement plan.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Speight points out that the investment has not been solely in the national team but in the entire infrastructure of cricket in Bermuda.

The aim is not simply to produce one team for one tournament but to create a structure and an environment that allows players of all ages and levels the opportunity to play and enjoy cricket.

"The investment is a lot broader than just the national side. The idea of the four-year-plan is to be successful in 2009 (ICC Trophy).

"For a lot of the players it has been a big adjustment. As cricket itself has grown and with Bermuda qualifying for the World Cup the demands on them have grown.

"It has been a big transition in terms of their family commitments and the schedule that has been forced on the players. That's made worse by the fact that we don't have an approved home venue and are having to play away all the time."

He added that defeats would be part of the process as Bermuda took on tougher opponents in a bid to improve.

"We don't want to be given easy fixtures just to get a win and please the public."

He said the board, together with the International Cricket Council's high-performance advisors had put together a month-by-month training plan from the time they qualified in July '05 right through to the World Cup in March '07.

He said the plan included playing tougher opponents, fitness training and nutrition advice working towards having the players at their peak in spring next year. The training will intensify as Bermuda moves towards being full-time over the next few months.

So, where did our $11 million go?

The $11million figure is a little misleading as that represents the amount that will be spent on cricket over the five years from October '05.

So far Bermuda Cricket Board has received an initial installment of $1.9 million for the six months from October last year and a second instalment of $3 million for the tax-year from April this year.

Here's a quick look at how some of the money has been spent and what else the BCB has done since qualifying for the World Cup.

New Academy Director

Wendell Smith appointed on a full-time basis to oversee cricket from under-19 level down, working in schools, developing youth leagues and increasing coaching opportunities.

New Cricket Academy

The new facility at BHS will be available to the board for 200 hours a year. It features six indoor nets complete with bowling machines and will allow the team to train through the rainy Bermuda winter. It has already been utilized by the womens and under-15 teams.

More youth cricket

The national programme has been stepped up at U19, U15 and U13 level while an under-10s team and a women's team have been established for the first time. The under-15s also toured Trinidad while the Under-19s have just played in the Sir Garfield Sobers tournament.

New youth leagues

A club under-13 league and a club under-10 league have been established, while newly structured Primary, Secondary and Senior school leagues have been set up.

New Coaches

English Cricket Board experts were flown in to coach the coaches. Around 15 Bermudian coaches passed their level 1 qualification while nine more passed the level 2. Top Bermudian coaches like George Cannonier and Herbie Bascome have been visiting schools to help coach teachers and kids.

New Staff

A video analyst, a physiotherapist, a nutritionist, a team of fitness trainers and other support staff have been recruited to aid the national team.

New opportunities/scholarships

Azeem Pitcher, Jekon Edness, Stephen Outerbridge and Jim West all travelled to South Africa to take part in the ICC's development camp.

Outerbridge and Edness have since gone to Cardiff on BCB cricket scholarships while Oronde Bascome will join them later this year. Places were found at top English club sides for Ryan Steede (Atherstone) and Kevin Hurdle (Folkestone). Both players also trained with English county sides. George O'Brien and Kwame Tucker were sent to an academy in Australia.

National team tours and training camps

The national team schedule has increased with overseas tours and training camps in Trinidad part of the build-up plan for '07.

New equipment

Anything from laptops to coloured clothing, bowling machines to new nets and coloured clothing has been provided at the behest of the clubs.There's also been equipment and training for the video analyst.

New umpires

Again English experts have been flown in to provide training for umpires and scorers.

Central Contracts

Ten national team players were recruited on monthly contracts by the board while others were given compensation for time off work, through their employers.

As Bermuda moves towards being full-time in the run up to the World Cup a core group of players are expected to receive individual contracts, depending on negotiations with their employers.[[In-content Ad]]

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