Top local cricket coach George Cannonier has urged national team members to set themselves realistic personal goals to strive for on the international stage in the future.

Cannonier, reported to be heading back to St. David’s to coach next summer, says one of the biggest challenges national team players often face is trying to make the adjustment mentally from playing amateur to first class cricket.

But having made a few personal observations, the English certified coach now thinks he has the answer to the problem — and that is setting goals and then gradually working towards achieving them.

“The only way you can achieve anything for yourself is to set goals, something which all of the professionals do. And I’m sure Gus (national coach Gus Logie) has talked to his players about setting goals,” Cannonier said.

“But the guys continue to go out there thinking they have to make runs fast and aren’t really conscious of what they are doing.

“They throw their wickets away every time. It seems like the guys have not got anything consciously set for themselves.

“And this bothers me because at this level these guys should have some experience on keeping goals in their mind.”

Cannonier suggested each team member should set themselves goals on achieving certain standards in all disciplines of the sport.

“You have to have these types of tactics in your team because it’s important,” he added. “I’ve watched one-day cricketers train and also how they do certain things. Limited overs is a very fast game. And so I think we need to be doing the same things that some of the other countries are doing in order to be successful.

“The game never changes, and it’s the players who make the game. And I think Bermuda stands just as much chance as any other team in the World Cup, but only as long as they are better prepared and are willing to set goals for themselves instead of just going through the motions.”