Tucker: It’s time to man up

Now is the time for Bermuda’s young cricketers to step up, according to new Twenty20 captain Janeiro Tucker.

Tucker will captain the side in three warm-up games against the US this weekend, starting today, in Florida as the island prepares for the World Twenty20 qualifiers in Dubai next month.

And while there’s no sign our much-loved ‘Mr Cup Match’ is about to turn nasty, the 38-year-old has let the emerging talents in the team know the qualifiers are not the place for excuses.

The likes of Christian Burgess, Terryn Fray, Tre Manders and Kamau Leverock have been named in the main squad for the tour of the UAE and are all tipped to have bright futures.

So are they ready to step up?

“They have to be,” said Tucker. “They need to seize the moment, enjoy it and try to carve something out for their own career. I will be telling them ‘establish yourself’.

“They need to take over from the old guys when we are finished. Their careers are just starting —  they have 10-15 years ahead of them. We’re on the downslide.

“The young players have got to take it to the next level. For them, it would be a milestone in their careers.”

Qualification to the World Twenty20 finals in Bangladesh next year would rank alongside reaching the 50-over World Cup finals in 2007 in the West Indies, which is the only time Bermuda’s cricketers have reached a world finals.

Tucker’s men are placed in Group B along with Afghanistan, Denmark, Kenya, Nepal,  Netherlands, Papua New Guinea and Scotland, with the games getting under way on November 15. Bermuda leave for the Emirates on November 8.

Tucker said: “I think our chances are pretty good but we have to play to our potential.

“Twenty20 is anybody’s game. Anything can happen in the short version. I think that’s actually one of Bermuda strengths rather than the long version.

“We’re like the West Indies, we play the short version pretty good.”

For the experienced all-rounder, Dubai conditions will present no surprises having played there multiple times in the past.

He believes, though, it will be crucial to adapt quickly once they land.

“The pitches are a little flat and the bounce is true but the main thing we have to deal with are the hot conditions. But we have two warm-up matches when we get there so we will adapt.”