Happy New Year to one and all, may 2014 bring you many joys and prosperity. As we close out 2013, I want to take a look back at the highs and lows of Bermuda cricket.

In a year that promised much, many were disappointed as cricket failed to live up to the expectations. But, hopefully with some foresight, 2014 will be a year to remember.

The cricket season was like a rollercoaster ride. It simply reminded us, the viewing public, of how our cricket is: one day we can beat Scotland, yet on another day we are losing to Uganda. Simply inconsistent.

Our cricket started in April with the national cricket team playing in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament, held in Bermuda. On a positive note, we managed to maintain our Division three status, but unfortunately we failed in our efforts to acquire promotion to Division Two.

The BCB later announced that it was terminating the two-division system and reverting to all in one league. The thought behind this was that it would encourage players to stay with their clubs and that clubs could focus on development. What was to come was a travesty. Several games ended before the tea interval, with teams being bowled out for some extremely low scores, as other barely broke a sweat. Was this developing or was this demoralising?

In an effort to bring some incentive to the players, the Board positively attracted sponsors. The Logic Player of the Week and the Chivas Sportsmanship of the Week awards were introduced. This was an exceptionally good gesture and gave the players something to strive towards.

As the season progressed, the league became of little importance to many because there was no promotion or relegation. Several top players could be seen absent from games, with some — including national team players — even opting to travel during the season. The highlight of the cricket season was easily Colts Cup Match, which Somerset won by bowling out St George’s, with merely one ball to spare.

Cup Match 2013 was at the Wellington Oval in St George’s. While Somerset came with an unchanged team, St George’s obviously had one eye on the future, with their team filled with many youngsters.

However, there is a time and place for everything and Somerset would show everybody, and this St George’s team, that they are worthy champions. Somerset dominated from ball one right up until the end of play on the second day. Had it not been for rain on the second day and a fine display of batting by Lionel Cann and Rodney Trott, St George’s would have suffered a convincing loss.

Next up was the Eastern Counties. St David’s wanted to set the record straight and show Bailey’s Bay who the real champion were and they would not to be denied on the day. Many fans flocked to Lord’s, St David’s, in anticipation of a battle, but what they were to witness was a one-sided massacre by a finely tuned St David’s team. St David’s would bowl out Bailey’s Bay for a mere 89 runs before cruising to a six-wicket victory.

As the season closed, it was a bit of an anticlimax. While there was a two-horse race for the league title, there was simply no other interest. With no promotion or relegation, several teams had little to play for and were merely showing up just to show up.

As the year came to a close, Bermuda’s quest for a World Twenty20 berth awaited in the UAE. Having to finish in the top six, Bermuda would fail miserably, finishing a lowly fourteenth overall out of 16 countries. It would cap a disappointing cricket season.

So what’s in store for 2014? Here is my wishlist:

1, We revert to two divisions with a top seven and a bottom seven. Although there are only 13 teams, looking back at last season’s results the top seven teams were very competitive.

Therefore, I would keep them together to play a home-and-away system. The bottom tier would also have seven teams with Bermuda Under-17 making up the last team.

Our young cricketers need to play as much cricket as possible and this would assist in their development.

2, I would love to see school cricket to finally be addressed properly. After the February break, get the boys playing indoor cricket tournaments and then go right into a league, whereby it is mandatory that all schools participate. At the end of the season, have an all-day school festival at the National Sports Centre where a school champion would be crowned.

3, Junior cricket to start in April, but, instead of ending in June, play right up until the week before Cup Match.

4. Bermuda Cricket Board to hire a full-time head of the Cricket Academy, whose role is to run the Academy and also go around the schools to coach and drum up the interest in the sport.

5. Restructure the senior national team. The senior level needs a new look, from manager, coach, assistant coach, medic etc, and standards to be put in place for all national teams for training requirements and touring purposes.

What Bermuda cricket needs going forward is more professionalism from the clubs. They need to take more pride in their cricket and how it is run at all age levels.

The bar has to be raised and it starts at the BCB. The Board must put things in place early to set the standard for the year. Now is the time to start rebuilding our cricket reputation worldwide, but it starts at home. We must get our foundation at home right first before we can even think about taking on the world.

Quote of the week: Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: now — Denis Waitley