Moore batting for all-star cricket league

Bermuda’s elite cricketers could face off against each other in an experimental ‘all star’ league in October.

National coach David Moore is understood to be among those backing an ambitious proposal that would see four teams comprising the island’s top players from the Premier and First Divisions compete in the elite league.

The Aussie is said to be keen to use the matches as preparation for the 2015 ICC World Cup qualifying bid in Dubai next April.

Such a concept would also enable national youth coaches to run the proverbial rule over the island’s Under-19 cricketers who are tentatively scheduled to compete in Under-19 World Cup qualifiers in Argentina next January.

Sea Breeze Oval and the National Sports Centre are the only two available turf venues that could host cricket matches in October should the proposed league come to fruition.

When contacted by the Bermuda Sun, Moore expressed optimism about the venture but declined to elaborate when pressed for further details about the ambitious plan. He said: “As soon as it gets finalised we will have a press release because it is going to be something a ­little different than what has happened here before.”

Bermuda vice-captain Stephen Outerbridge is a firm advocate of having the island’s elite cricketers exposed to as much ­competition as possible — whether domestic or international.

He said: “When you look at the rest of the (ICC) Associate countries in the top tier like Ireland, they play cricket all year round.

“Obviously the more cricket you play, the more you can bring your skills up to an optimum level.”

Under the stewardship of former West Indies vice-captain and coach Gus Logie, Bermuda qualified for the 2007 ICC World Cup in the Caribbean — our first appearance on world cricket’s biggest stage.