January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Straight from the bat / A player’s perspective
Cup Match: Something's missing
I may be skipper of St George's but I can't take any pleasure from the problems Somerset are having in the run up to Cup Match.
When it comes to Cup Match it should be the best players in Bermuda.
I'm not saying the guys that come in won't get the job done, but Janeiro Tucker, Kwame Tucker, Irving Romaine - these are World Cup players and Bermuda deserves to see them. I call Janeiro, 'Mr. Cup Match', and it's sad that he's not playing. With Saleem (Mukuddem) retiring as well that is the heart of their batting for the last five or six years gone.
I think Dion Stovell is injured so I don't know if their batting is going to be all that deep. With their bowling they've got Jacobi Robinson, Sluggo, Hasan (Durham), Malachi (Jones) and Kevin Hurdle so they don't have any problems in that department.
We definitely won't be underestimating them, but I feel they are in a rebuilding process at the moment. At St George's we've got the opposite problem. Just about everyone who is playing well at the moment seems to be in our camp.
I believe Glenn Blakeney is available again. Clay Smith scored a hundred at the weekend. Charlie Marshall is still a class act, OJ Pitcher is the most talented young batsman in Bermuda. Players like James Celestine, Maurice Lowe, Troy Hall will all be pushing to be in the team.
In bowling we've got George (O'Brien), Delyone (Borden) is another mega talent, Ryan Steede is captain of the club side and he'll be pushing for his place back, Rodney Trott is bowling well for the under-19s. I understand Stefan Kelly is having a great season overseas.
Dean Minors is not going to play but we have good competition for the wicket-keeper's spot. The headaches we have got down here are the best headaches you could possibly have.
Right now we have got at least 20 players that are good enough to be in the first XI.
Things may look good for St George's but across Bermuda I don't see that much depth of talent. At the national team we are struggling to replace guys that have retired and those that have chosen to spend time with their families after the World Cup.
Personally I'm still fully committed to the national team. I haven't been able to train as much as I would have liked because of my commitment as coach of St David's. But I am training when I can and am available for the Holland tour, if selected. One thing is for sure - there are challenges ahead.
Those of us that went to the World Cup had three years of travelling around the world to try and adapt to a higher level. The new guys have got to come in right at the top.
The pool is small and I don't think we have the talent around in Bermuda that we used to. One of the reasons, for this, I believe, is that we didn't have a youth programme for a period of about 6-10 years.
When those that went to the World Cup were coming up we had Shell Cricket. I played every weekend for St George's South. We played competitive cricket the whole summer. Ed Bailey was in charge of the BCB back then and there were some unbelievable programmes. The guys that are in the 24-30 age group right now have never played any youth cricket. It's good to see that we have got youth programmes back in place again.
There's always room for improvement but with three youth leagues and the under-19s coming through, things could get better in the future.[[In-content Ad]]
Comments:
You must login to comment.