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If Bermuda's senior national cricket team is to make a good impression at next year's World Cup there must be far greater commitment from those involved in the preparations.

It is clear to most observers that a total commitment has not been made. Consider the following:

n The Bermuda Cricket Board just recently begun to look into making the players full time when their own chairman of selectors told them last year that this step would become inevitable.

n One need only look at the players to see that many are not fit to compete on the world stage.

n There appears to be very little movement in regard to resolving the problems with the pitch at the NSC.

n Our overseas player David Hemp has decided to tour Guernsey with Glamorgan at the end of the English county season rather than return to Bermuda immediately to prepare for the world cup campaign.

I was disappointed when I learned that O.J. Pitcher and Delyonne Borden have decided against putting their education temporarily on hold to concentrate on the island's World Cup preparations because they are a major asset to the team.

However, I recognize that this country does not afford a cricketer the opportunity to make a living from the sport and respect their decision to put their education first.

However, I must say I cannot understand coach Gus Logie's assurances that their places in the World Cup squad are not in jeopardy.

This in a nut shell clearly demonstrates the root of the problem - a lack of total commitment.

If Bermuda is to do well in 2007 all members of our national squad must be focused on their cricket for the next six months.

There is no way a player can prepare properly for such a tournament and divide his time between work, studies and cricket.

We've been down that road before, remember when Roland Butcher was in charge of the national squad and sent training exercises from England for the team to carry out.

We learned the bitter lesson that coaching in 'abstensia' simply does not work! I believe Logie should have thanked both players for their contributions and wished them well in their studies.

He then should have instructed his selectors to look around for replacements for the tour to Toronto, Dion Stovell, Arthur Pitcher Jnr and Rodney Trott immediately spring to mind, although I am sure there are others worthy of consideration.

There can be no divided loyalties when it comes to preparing for the World Cup - if there are Bermuda will suffer such embarrassment and humiliation on the world stage that the 20/20 loss to Jamaica a couple of weeks ago will pale into insignificance.

Cup Match

On a Cup Match note, I was challenged by my sports editor to select a greatest all-time cup match eleven, unfortunately due to time restraints I have not been able to carry out the necessary research to do so however I have selected a combined best eleven made up of players who have represented the clubs in the last twenty-five years.

In batting order

1. Wendell Smith - a great accumulator of runs, the man best able to play the anchor role in the team and captain of the team.

2. Ricky Hill - an exciting, classy, stroke-player who scores quickly and represents the ideal foil to Wendell.

3. Clay Smith - the most accomplished batsman Bermuda has ever produced and the first man to score 3 centuries in Cup Match, need I say more!

4. Albert Steede - a virtual run machine, consistent, never gave his wicket away easily and prepared to battle to the very end.

5. Charlie Marshall - a no nonsense hard-hitting batsman with the ability to decorate the scoreboard in record time.

6. Janeiro Tucker - the holder of the highest individual score in Cup Match, a prolific run scorer and more than useful stock bowler.

7. Alan Douglas - superb wicketkeeper, excellent at rallying the team and no slouch with the bat.

8. Stan Smith - probably the best spin bowler I ever saw play the game, mesmerized both local and foreign batsmen.

9. Anthony 'Pacer' Edwards - this man could bowl fast, and you were guaranteed wickets when he was on 'song'.

10. Roger Blades - quick and hostile, put fear into the hearts of St.George's batsmen

11. David 'Chick' Adams - appeared to place Somerset batsmen under a spell when he bowled - Bermuda's very own version of Shane Warne![[In-content Ad]]

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