Get it right or there will be no way back for our cricket for years to come.While I am sure Bermuda Cricket Board and the head coach are planning, if not have already planned the next six months in preparation for April, 2013. Everybody players, coaches and executive must be on the same page. A series of discussions must take place to rectify the rifts or issues that are threatening to tear Bermuda cricket apart.I have no doubt that in the near future Stephen Outerbridge will be named captain of Bermuda. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg that needs to be sorted for our cricket to prosper. Bermuda cricket players have to start taking responsibility for their actions or lack of. Part of their problem is that they need to learn to communicate better with the coaching staff and executives.Players tend not to talk out of fear of being blackballed, but those days are gone. One cannot afford to let issues that hamper the team go unnoticed, regardless of the consequences. I am a strong believer in teams having open meeting to express themselves and airing out their dirty laundry, but being open to constructive criticism, thus moving on once the meeting has ended.Our players need to take a page out of former coach Gus Logie’s book as one of his main things was, “No Excuses”. Too many of our players make excuses as to why they don’t do something. Players have to start taking a more professional approach if we are to be successful next summer. As I said, Stephen, if he is placed as captain, is only part of the solution, but not the total solution. Players and coaches then must do their part.While I have singled out players I must also single out coaches and say they too have an extremely big part to play in the team’s success. First things first, coaches must gain the players’ trust and respect. One of the biggest issues I think plaguing us is the lack of understanding of the players and our culture. I encourage Mr. Moore to take time out to get to know each player from a personal standpoint and also take time to understand the Bermuda culture.If one doesn’t understand our culture they will struggle no matter how good a coach they are. Mr. Moore in my eyes, from what I have seen, is a well-educated coach with a lot to offer, but players have to be receptive to his teaching and be willing to listen and learn. There is no doubt Mr. Moore has the tools to make us successful here in Bermuda but that small void has to be filled. Players must trust him and back him.When I look back at all the coaches I have played under Gus Logie, Darryl Cullinan and Bob Simpson all stood out to me for various reasons. Bob stood out because he brought a variety of new drills, and a whole different level of professionalism. Darryl stood out because of his passion and no nonsense approach; he was consistent and didn’t bend no matter who the player was. Lastly, Gus impressed me with his work ethic as a coach. His willingness to go over and beyond the call of duty was impressive and reaped the rewards because the players knew that he had their best interests at heart.Gus knew players had worked and sometimes worked two jobs, but he was always willing to meet them on their lunch break or whenever they had an hour to spare. While all the coaches brought a different approach, Gus was the one who got the best results and it was simply down to him taking time to learn about the players, and their ways, their lifestyles, and showing the players that he cared.Again, I do not want to make any excuses for the players; hence, I place the responsibility back on the players to come to the front as they have Bermuda’s cricketing future in their hands. The players have to realise what is at stake a chance to play on local soil and regain Division Two status, which would be massive for us as a country. Any player who does not partake in training for this tournament should be omitted from selection for a very long time, unless excused by the coaching staff.If Stephen is given the captaincy, a certain level of expectation will come with it in terms of player attendance to training. This is something the players want, so if they get what they want they better back their captain by coming out and showing their support, or risk not having a voice at all in the future.If they don’t, they basically will be saying they have given up on Bermuda cricket, which would be a shame because we have an abundance of young, talented cricketers. Therefore, I encourage the players to go training, work hard for the coaching staff, your captain, and most of all your country.Work hard now and everything will be easy come April, 2013. I guarantee you that!