Island's senior cricketers have 'a big role to play' in development

Saturday, July 23: Bermuda cricket is suffering because far too many senior players are moving away from the game too early.

That’s the view of former Bermuda and Somerset Cup Match bowler Robert Hinds who feels senior players have a major role to play in the development of future generations of cricketers.

Hinds, who now resides in Florida, said senior cricketers should put retirement plans on the backburner and instead “hang around longer” to groom those coming behind them.

He said: “There are a lot of senior players out there that should still be playing. They are the ones that need to get out there and lead by example and teach these kids how to play the game.

“But a lot of the senior cricketers who should be out there guiding the youngsters and instilling discipline, in terms of the way the game is played, are on the sidelines.”

Hinds, 61, has suggested that every club with a ground should have at least two teams; one for development purposes and the other for elite players.

“Every club that has a ground should be able to field two teams on a weekend to give the older players a chance to mix and teach the younger players in the second team while your best players play in the First Division.”

The former policeman also feels that Commerical Division cricketers have a vital role to play in the development of aspiring cricketers.

“The Commercial players can move into some of these clubs and play in the second team because there’s a lot of good cricketers in the Commercial Division that can help these youngsters along.”

The off-break bowler, who still plays competitive cricket weekends in the South Florida Cricket Alliance Premier Division, wants to see cricket promoted more in the schools and elite players playing in a league of their own.

He said over the years Bermuda has produced “world-class” players and, as such, sees no reason why others cannot walk in the footsteps of local legends such as former Somerset Cup Match teammate Barry DeCouto.

“Players like Barry DeCouto and Allan Douglas were world-class wicketkeepers – they were good enough to keep for any Test team in the world.

“Then of course you had Clarence Parfitt who was a world- class bowler. He proved that when he moved from Bermuda in his 40s and went to Scotland and played against some of the best bowlers in the world.

“He was one of the world’s greatest bowlers and the only one that was probably compatible to him was Derek Underwood (former England Test player).”