January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
It's Decision Day for national team hopefuls
Chris Douglas
After exploding on to the senior international scene with a half-century against West Indies in Canada, Douglas has inked his name on to the team sheet as first choice opening batsman.
The challenge for him now is to progress even further and become a key player in this team. One half-century on this tour and an average of 23.33 is better than we have come to expect at the top of the order, an area where Bermuda has traditionally struggled. But Douglas is capable of playing match-winning innings from that position and it would be a huge boost for his side if he could convert a string of good starts (19,25,38,21) into innings of real substance.
Stats
Innings: 10 (not out once)
Runs: 210
Top Score: 64 v St Vincent Select XI
Average: 23.33
Strike Rate: 55.56
Fiqre Crockwell
The revelation of the tour, Crockwell played in all 11 matches and emerged ahead of Jekon Edness as the first choice wicket-keeper/batsman.
Crockwell also provides a new alternative at the top of the order forming a solid partnership with Chris Douglas that gave Bermuda a good platform in the bulk of their matches in the Caribbean.
A century against St. Vincent Select, where he top scored with 91, would have been deserved reward for a tour which saw him progress in leaps and bounds, putting up solid numbers with the bat and showing he has the fitness and stamina to last a long, drawn out tournament.
Stats
Innings: 11 (1 no)
Runs: 290
Top Score: 91 v St Vincent Select XI
Average: 29
Strike Rate: 59.43
Lionel Cann
Since returning to the team following a self-imposed break from international cricket Cann has emerged as Bermuda's most consistently effective batsman.
Previously the king of the explosive cameo, he has managed to combine his natural aggression with patience and maturity. His ability to play long innings and convert those 30s and 40s into big totals has turned him into a match-winner.
He scored three of the top five individual totals by Bermudian batsmen on this tour and accumulated his scores at a rate of better than a run a ball.
If he can continue his purple patch into the World Cup qualifiers then Bermuda has as good a chance as anyone to make it to the top four.
Stats
Innings: 9 (2 no)
Runs: 331
Top Score: 110 not out v Grenada Under-23s
Average: 47.29
Stephen Outerbridge
Classy left-hander Outerbridge has shaken off the double-edged compliment of having 'great potential' to become a genuine heavyweight in Bermuda's middle order.
Like Lionel Cann, he has emerged from the pack to become a mainstay of the batting line-up - the years of exposure to a higher level of international cricket paying dividends in the form of increasingly significant performances.
His breakthrough century against Scotland last summer - a turning point in his career - has helped shatter those mental demons which had previously prevented him from turning his enormous talent into results on the pitch.
He would still like to add to that century though - something his team needs if they are to consistently post scores of 250 plus.
Stats
Innings: 8 (1 no)
Runs: 276
Top Score: 68 v St. Vincent Select
Average: 39.43
Janeiro Tucker
Past glories could well be enough to secure Tucker's place in the squad, but this was not a good tour for him with the bat.
A top score of 35 and an average of less than 13 would ordinarily make a player vulnerable to being cut amid the frenzied competition for places in the middle order.
But Tucker's reputation as a man for the big occasion, and his track record at this level should at least earn him a place in the squad. His ability to bowl ten overs could also be crucial.
Stats
Batting
Innings: 8 (7 no)
Runs: 90
Top Score: 35 v University of Trinidad & Tobago
Average: 12.86
Bowling
Overs: 28
Wickets: 6
Runs conceded: 96
Average: 16
Economy Rate: 3.43
Irving Romaine
This was another disappointing tour for the skipper. He is struggling to shake off a run of bad form with the bat spanning almost 12 months.
A half-century in the final game of the trip was his only contribution of note and questions are being asked about whether he should command an automatic spot in the starting line-up.
Romaine's track record, his experience and his role as a well-liked skipper mean he will certainly be in the squad. But his lack of runs is beginning to put his place in the XI in doubt.
Stats
Batting
Innings: 9 (2no)
Runs: 124
Top Score: 52 v Grenada Select
Average: 17.71
Bowling
Overs: 16
Wickets: 4
Runs Conceded: 71
Average: 17.75
Economy Rate: 4.44
Jekon Edness
Didn't make a significant contribution with the bat and unless Bermuda opt for a specialist keeper he may find himself out of the picture.
Fiqre Crockwell's progress with the bat on this tour makes him a genuine all-round option and Logie may prefer the option of including an extra batsman or bowler at the expense of a full-time gloveman like Edness.
He's highly regarded behind the stumps, though, and with so many spinners in the line-up that could work in his favour over a part-time keeper like Crockwell.
Stats
Innings: 5
Runs: 64
Top Score: 17 v South Castries and St Lucia President's XI
Average: 12.8
David Hemp
Finished the tour on a high with a knock of 74 against Grenada and remains a calming, experienced presence in Bermuda's middle order.
Like most of Bermuda's batsmen he struggled to turn good starts into big scores but his retirement from the English County Cricket scene has clearly done him no harm and he ended the tour with a healthy 33.67 average.
Despite his World Cup half-century against India there is a lingering suspicion that Hemp has yet to win over the majority of Bermuda fans - some of whom expected him to have a similar impact to Holland's impressive Essex star Ryan ten Doeschate. A couple of timely performances in South Africa would surely set that record straight.
Stats
Innings: 6
Runs: 202
Top Score: 74 v Grenada
Average: 33.67
Delyone Borden
On the evidence of his performances on the pitch the big turning off-spinner would be in with a good shout of making the squad.
But his impasse with the board in a dispute over pay could mean that Borden does not fly.
The details of the dispute have not been revealed and coach Gus Logie would only confirm that there was a potential disciplinary issue involving Borden that would have to be adjudicated by the BCB executive before he could be selected.
The fact that Bermuda has a surplus of spin bowlers, with Leverock, Tamauri Tucker and Trott claiming 43 wickets between them on this tour could mean that Borden, for all his talent, is left behind anyway.
Stats
Overs: 33
Wickets: 6
Runs conceded: 101
Average: 16.83
Economy Rate: 3.06
Rodney Trott
The progress Rodney Trott has made in the last two years exemplifies the wisdom of investing in the Under-19s and in overseas academies.
While others have fallen by the wayside, Trott has put cricket first and taken advantage of every opportunity on offer. He is now a frontline bowler for Bermuda and an integral part of the senior team. He was top wicket-taker in the Caribbean claiming 19 scalps and bowling 76 overs in total.
Along with the more experienced Leverock, he has the capacity to lock-up the middle overs of the innings and keep batsmen pegged down when they are looking to cut loose. He also showed he can handle the pressure of bowling at the death, if required.
Stats
Overs: 76
Wickets: 19
Runs conceded: 243
Average: 12.78
Economy Rate: 3.2
Batting: Scored 54 runs at 9.0 avg
Jacobi Robinson
Fitness looks likely to keep Robinson out of the squad for South Africa, which is a shame because his early performances on this tour showed promise.
Bermuda is seriously short of seam bowling options and Robinson, briefly, looked like providing an extra option.
His 4 for 46 against a St. Lucia Select was the highlight of his tour but a couple of niggling injuries kept him from playing a major part.
He's carrying a minor knock right now and is likely to be left behind.
The injury is not likely to keep him out of the squad, but Hodsoll's better fitness may keep him off the team.
Stats
Overs: 32
Wickets: 7
Runs Conceded: 141
Average: 20.14
Economy Rate: 4.41
George O'Brien
Pace bowler George O'Brien wasn't quite at his brilliant best on this tour. But he still showed glimpses of the form that has made him Bermuda's most feared pace bowler.
He provides a dose of much needed aggression (he even split the helmet of one luckless batsman on this tour) to a spin heavy attack and keeping him fit and firing will be priority number one for physio Craig Brown in South Africa.
Likely to be one of three seam bowlers in the final squad and will have a big role to play.
O'Brien also showed he can hold a bat on this tour with an impressive 49 not out to push his team toVictory against a St Lucia President's XI.
Stats
Overs: 64.5
Wickets: 12
Runs Conceded: 295
Average: 24.5
Economy Rate: 4.57
Kyle Hodsoll
There were no fireworks from Hodsoll but he continued to show promise on this tour, carrying on his progress from the Bermuda A trip to Argentina.
Injury to Kevin Hurdle and Justin Pitcher means he is likely to be rewarded for his application with a place in the squad for South Africa.
He has drawn praise for his fitness and good attitude in training and should travel as a back-up seamer.
Stats
Overs: 42.1
Wickets: 6
Runs Conceded: 183
Average: 30.5
Economy Rate: 4.35
Dwayne Leverock
The consistency and longevity of Dwayne Leverock as an international class spin bowler is nothing short of phenomenal.
Since Bermuda last qualified for the last World Cup (in Ireland in 2005) he has hardly missed a game for his country and has been among the top bowlers on every tour.
Containment is the hallmark of the Sluggo brand and it is rare for the big left arm spinner to return from a tour with an economy rate of worse than three an over - no matter what the opposition.
This time was no different. Sluggo took 13 wickets at an economy rate of 2.93 an over. He'd walk into any team in the tournament in South Africa, despite his much publicized physical limitations.
Stats
Overs: 54
Wickets: 13
Runs Conceded: 158
Average: 12.15
Economy Rate: 2.93
Tamauri Tucker
On the fringes of the first team for so long, this was something of a breakthrough tour for Tucker.
Only George O'Brien and Rodney Trott bowled more overs and the young spinner was one of four bowlers to take more than ten wickets.
The form of Trott and Leverock means he is likely to be third choice spinner on the trip to South Africa, but he should have a role to play.
Stats
Overs: 64.3
Wickets: 11
Runs Conceded: 245
Average: 22.27
Economy Rate: 3.81
Kevin Hurdle
It was hoped that Hurdle would make his long awaited return from a persistent shoulder injury on this tour. But the luckless pace bowler picked up a fresh injury - a groin strain - after bowling just a handful of overs.
He won't be able to travel to South Africa - a huge loss to the squad.
Justin Pitcher
Another seamer whose tour was cut short by injury Pitcher had little chance to build on the promise he had shown in the Americas tournament and in Argentina. He has also been ruled out of the tour through injury. n[[In-content Ad]]
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