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BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

Is it time to draft in the youngsters?

Photo by chief photographer David SkinnerThe Bermuda National team training at the queen’s park oval nets in Port of Spain 19/3/2007 in preparation of tomorrow match against IndiaStefan Kelly

Will Bermuda stick to the same team outclassed by Sri Lanka last Thursday or will coach Gus Logie opt to bring in youngsters Malachi Jones, Stefan Kelly and Stephen Outerbridge for today’s clash against India?

As usual, Logie was giving nothing away last night, preferring not to make public his starting eleven until half an hour before the start of the match.

But with both Kelly and Jones working hard in the nets yesterday morning, while other players enjoyed a relatively light session under a broiling hot sun, there was some suggestion that he might be planning to use either one or both of the two young pacers.

Kevin Hurdle, who endured a nightmare 14-ball second over against Sri Lanka when he conceded 24 runs including five no balls and three wides — the second longest over in World Cup history — could be the man sacrificed, although he too appeared to be concentrating heavily on his run-up during yesterday’s training.

Early order batsman Outerbridge, who often looks confident early in his innings but has rarely managed to get into double figures in the big matches, could also earn a recall, although other than veteran Clay Smith who continues to struggle, it’s difficult to see who he might replace.

Asked yesterday whether he had a fully fit side to pick from, Logie replied: “ . . . by our standards, yes,” no doubt alluding to the fact that most players here at the World Cup appear much trimmer and slimmer than many of Bermuda’s veterans.

And he said the fact that Bangladesh orchestrated their victory over India on Saturday with a team made up primarily of young players, including 17-year-old debutant Tamim Iqbal Khan who cracked a flamboyant 51, wouldn’t influence his own selection.

“I think it’s not only a matter of teenage players, it’s a matter of quality,” said Logie. “You look at the Bangladesh players and they’ve had a lot of experience, they’ve had quality in their team even though they are young players, they’ve been around for a number of years. You cannot compare Bermuda’s teenage players with those from Bangladesh.

“But I think youth is something that always works in your favour, they’re fearless and I hope if we do play our young players tomorrow they will be just as fearless (as those from Bangladesh).”

Logie conceded Bermuda’s team were “a little bit different” from any other at this World Cup.

“We have individuals who are capable,” he added. “We don’t have as youthful a team as the Bangladeshis. When you look at our team it’s a completely different kind of personnel, I think we present something a little bit different from the normal run of the mill team.

“Our players are a little bit heavier set than most, they’re not as quick as some but we hope to cover the ground as best as possible.”

But with every match, Logie insisted, Bermuda would continue to improve, citing Bangladesh as an example of a team now capitalising on their international experience.

“I’ve said all along the reason Bangladesh are doing so well now is that they’ve had the opportunity to play against the best teams in the world. It took them a long time, and I think this is now their fifth win against a full ICC member.

“They’ve been playing for a number of years and it does take time but they have a young squad and over the next six or seven years, I’m certain you’ll see them as a force in world cricket.”

Looking ahead to today’s game, Logie said the side batting first could expect some early problems with the pitch offering assistance to the seamers. “Anybody looking would see the pitch has a bit of moisture in the morning and the seam bowlers certainly should hold sway. But I think if you look at all the matches so far the team batting first has lost early wickets. The team that has depth in their batting will be able to persevere.

“The wickets here have taken on different characteristics over the years. I think the Queen’s Park Oval has always been low and slow with a bit of turn. We’ve seen a lot more bounce, a lot more seam movement this time.

“It’s a new square and I trust it will continue like that over the next few days.”