---

With the commencement of the 50 over league this past weekend I decided to forego watching my club team Devonshire Rec beat up on Warwick Workman's. Instead I made my way to Wellington Oval to see Bermuda's under-19 national team take on Cleveland County.

I must say that what I saw for the most part impressed me. The first thing that struck me was seeing a team dressed in Bermuda colours where each and every cricketer looked physically fit and trim. This represented a complete contrast to watching the senior national squad in action during the World Cup where the majority of our players appeared to carry a bit too much weight.

The under-19s are a good team. The players appear well disciplined and determined to do well. Their fielding was exceptional when judged by local club standards and they took a number of superb catches, none better than the one taken at short mid wicket to dismiss former Bermuda captain Clay Smith.

Led by an impressive knock of 73 from skipper Malachi Jones they defeated Cleveland convincingly by 103 runs. Young Jones is a player of enormous potential. He took the Cleveland attack apart from the moment he arrived at the crease. He opened his account with a huge six followed by a four.

Thereafter he rapidly progressed to his half-century without any apparent problems, striking the ball cleanly and had he not been run out, I have very little doubt that he would have made a century. While he did not claim any wickets, he used the ball well, striking a good length immediately and varying his pace on a wicket that provided the seam bowlers with very little help.

He is a 'thinking' bowler which is unusual for a young player. Most run up and turn their arm over without trying to 'outfox' the batsman.

It is important that Malachi play at a higher level if he is to fulfil his potential. I am not convinced that four to six weeks at a cricket academy is the answer, it would be far more beneficial if he could participate in a more competitive league overseas.

I would suggest that the BCB look to place Malachi and a couple of other outstanding young players such as Stefan Kelly, Delyonne Borden, Stephen Outerbridge and O.J. Pitcher with club sides in England during the summer, similar to the opportunity that Clay Smith, Dean Minors and Glenn Blakeney were afforded in the nineties. This I believe would have a major impact on their cricket development.

While it is obvious the under-19 team have been well-drilled, I believe national coach Gus Logie should be playing a greater role with them. He is without doubt the best coach in the island and actually made his name in coaching through the success he achieved with the West Indies Youth teams. If he could have such a positive impact on them then I am convinced he could do the same on our players.[[In-content Ad]]

---