Just recently the Bermuda Cricket Board announced a new selection committee, which is the fist step in trying to rectify the issues surrounding the national team.Derek Wright, Allen Douglas, Reggie Tucker, David Moore and myself form what is a well-rounded team of selectors who all have the best interests of cricket at heart.With Derek Wright being the chairman and David Moore the national coach, the committee is a long time coming.While many may wonder where this is coming from, some in the Bermuda cricket world have wondered why we haven’t had a selection committee all this time.If you look at the selection committee there is youth and experience, and people with a strong cricket background with a lot to offer.One thing is for sure this committee will be visual, meaning the players will see them around regularly watching, and observing.This is important because it shows professionalism to the players, it shows them that we are serious about cricket and moving forward.With the recent non attendance of so many of our top players on recent tours and training, Bermuda national team has been left to wonder what could have been had they had their best players on the field.Wright, the new chairman of the selection committee, is focused on rectifying this problem and aims to get Bermuda’s best players playing again so we can once again be a formidable force.Let the truth be told, we will be looking to talk with all players who have been absent in the past for whatever reasons. We realise that there are pressing issues out there and people have priorities, but playing for your country is a priority as well.If a player has pressing issues we would like them to be open with us so we can work with them, and see if there is a way that the Cricket Board can even assist them.The selector’s role is simple and that is to observe sessions, offer advice when possible and assist in selection of training squads and touring teams, while the reality is at the end of the day everything has to go through executive to be finalised.Just looking at the recently released 20/20 grouping for UAE, Bermuda is in a favourable group.Afghanistan, Netherlands, Canada, Nepal, Hong Kong, Denmark and Papau New Guinea complete the group and if Bermuda are to progress to the play-off stage they must finish in the top three in their group. This will be tough with Netherlands, Afghanistan and Canada being group favourites. Mind you one must remember this is 20/20 and this style of cricket suits Bermuda players. It would not surprise me at all if we finish in the top three.If we are to accomplish such a feat we will need to be somewhere near full strength.Players such as Janiero Tucker, Lionel Cann, and Dean Minors are key players as they are explosive. Unfortunately, Bermuda will have to do without the services of former captain Irving Romaine as he is suspended.If you add Irvin to those other three surrounded by Hemp, Leverock, Outerbridge, Crockwell and crew you have a well balanced, explosive line-up.Another key issue for Bermuda is securing the services of our overseas players such as David Hemp, Kamau Leverock, Terryn Fray, Oronde Bascome, and Stefan Kelly. They all may not be totally suited for the 20/20 game, but their overseas experience and exposure would assist us tremendously.January is just around the corner and I urge players to up their game and be more focused and committed to the training.The work down in training is critical and could be the difference between winning and losing. Some of the work done in training is very new to our players so the importance to train and execute the skills repeatedly is extremely important so that it becomes second nature.There is an old saying. “Hard work pays off”, and I want to encourage the players to put their work in over the next three months to prepare themselves and Bermuda to the best of their ability. To play for your country is an honour and the greatest accomplish any player can ever achieve. Do not take it for granted!Quote of the week: “I don’t measure a man’s success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom” General George S. Patton