St. George's Cricket Club executive and umpire Mansfield (Bojangles) Smith is in no doubt who should take over the national cricket team captaincy.

As with a number of writers to Sports Mailbox in recent weeks, in the wake of the Barbados tour debacle, Smith insists that his own son, Clay, is the man for the job.

"Clay is definitely the right person for captain. And I'm not saying that because he is my son", Smith told The Royal Gazette.

"Let's face it, Clay has always wanted the job. Nobody else really wants it and Clay is the most qualified player around right now and he is really ready for such a challenge."

The decision by several senior cricketers not to play against the visiting Barbadians prompted an outcry from local fans, many of whom feel the standard of local cricket will continue to plummet unless players show more enthusiasm.

There have been claims that some players opted out of the Barbados matches for fear of facing faster bowling, but the general consensus seems to be that players simply lost interest in the game once Cup Match and the County competitions were concluded.

Whatever the reason, many have now called on Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) to make a concerted effort to put the game back on track with a fresh approach, starting with the naming of Smith as leader of the senior national team.

Mansfield Smith said he felt that in an attempt to get the ball rolling so that Bermuda would be competitive when they host the Americas Cup tournament next summer, plans for the future should be put into effect immediately.

The appointment of his son as skipper, he said, would allow Clay and coach Mark Harper time to meet with prospective squad members over a period of weeks to determine who was willing to commit to national team requirements.

"By meeting one on one with the players and making them aware of this new, ambitious attempt to rejuvenate Bermuda's national team, we just may get the sort of response that has been lacking at that level in recent years," said Smith.

Once these steps have been made, Smith felt that with a new squad, Bermuda would be in position to get into serious training early in the new year.

While the players could use the training to get into shape for their club commitments, the main purpose would be for them to get ready for a tour of the Caribbean in preparation for the Americas Cup.

"I have read many comments what people had to say about our cricket, but I would like to think I am more optimistic," added Smith. "We still have a lot of good players around and to be honest I have seen a lot of younger ones with a lot of ability.

"The other day I watched a game between an Under-19 Select and the older players who had the likes of Herbie Bascome and Gregg Foggo. And Allan Douglas Jr. scored 71 for the youngsters, it was the first time I had had the privilege of watching his progress. There are probably some other youngsters out there that I don't know about, we just have to give them a chance.

"We have to include them, get them match fit and go from jump street. You are going to need a few experienced players, but we have to use the youth.

"O.J.Pitcher is one young player who should be a regular in our senior national squad, he has been tossed around a bit, in and out of Cup Match and likewise in Select picks. It reminds me of Arnold Manders when he was coming up, too often was he dropped when he proved to be as good as others who kept him out of select teams.

"I thought it was ludicrous for St. George's to leave Pitcher out of Cup Match this year.

"Among the other good youngsters who come to my mind right now are Jacobi Robinson and Dion Stovell."

Smith said that next year was an important one for Bermuda's cricketers who needed to gauge their progress by playing against countries of similar strength in the Americas Cup.

He believed there was no way that the United States, Canada and Cayman Islands should be beating Bermuda.

"I think we can turn this around with the proper approach, a proper programme. If Clay is finally selected he will give it a hundred percent plus to help to get everybody match fit, believing in themselves and ready to carry the Bermuda banner with honour."