What a week in cricket folks!

In one week so much has been said and done and all of a sudden several of us have become cricket experts.

With the women's team scoring an all-time low of 13, the Under-19s receiving a baptism of fire, and Saleem Mukeedem's opinion piece stirred up mass conversation.

I ask the question: "How does cricket recover from this condition?"

I need to make something clear here. The women's team were thrown into a pot of boiling water and they got scalded. The scoreline was shocking to some, but not to me as I have watched a few of the teams that are in this tournament and believe me they are respectable cricketers.

Listening to the comments made by their head coach Allen Douglas, it appears that the women have fallen into the same trap as the men's team - more than just a few players lack the passion and pride necessary to play at the higher level.

The Under-19s have found out just how tough it is at the top. Many great things were expected of them at this World Cup. They were supposed to be the public's answer to our cricketing problems at the senior level.

However, after several disappointing performances, the Under-19s have come under public scrutiny as well. So, should we dismantle the senior squad and let all of the youngsters take their place? Absolutely not, the reality is that there are only four or five Under-19 players who could possibly make the grade at the senior level at this time.

So Bermuda, let's discuss the balance needed in our senior squad. There seems to be an underlying controversy where that is concerned.

Too often in Bermuda we have quality senior players being asked to step aside for youngsters coming through. YES they may have potential, but have yet to prove themselves on the international stage.

When I pondered over this during the week, it reminded me of something that took place years ago. I myself was a youngster once, and I was looking forward to breaking into the national squad, a feat that was tougher than I ever dreamed.

A batting line-up of Wendell, Allen, Albert, Charlie and Noel as the first five. Please, where was I as a young 19-year-old going to fit into that line-up.

I remember touring Jamaica to play against them at Sabina Park. I was sure of myself then, reason being I left Bermuda as the only batsman to score 1,000 runs in our domestic season and was the league MVP.

As I sat waiting for the captain to announce the team, I was 150 percent sure that my name would be called, but to my dismay it wasn't.

I cried my eyes out that night and vowed to fight my way into the team no matter what it took. On that tour, I got my opportunity and I seized it, thus proving myself on the international stage. That tour made me realise that playing for your country should be the pinnacle of any player's career.

Today the minute we see a youngster with a little bit of talent we feel we should automatically filter him into the team, regardless of whether or not he has had any international exposure.

I can assure you, this will result in no country pride and no passion because once you don't have to work for something, why then would you strive to become better. You are already considered the cream of the crop . . . there is no motivation.

If you question my opinion, then I encourage you to just look around Bermuda and see what is lacking from our cricketers and our game today. You should come up with pride and passion. Look out for next week's column as I will go into more detail about pride and passion.

Motto for the week dedicated to all of our national teams by Abraham Lincoln: 'My greatest concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.'