With the World Cup now only ten months away, the door remains wide open for any player to join the senior national cricket team providing they meet the criteria, says chairman of selectors Arnold Manders.

In recent weeks, Manders has observed several outstanding performances on the part of players not currently involved with the national programme.

But while he?s been pleased with what he?s seen in domestic matches, skill alone, he warned, would not guarantee any player an automatic spot on the squad.

?They must first be committed to the cause and perform on a consistent basis and not get themselves in any trouble,? he explained.

?It doesn?t matter how good they may think they are. If you are not tied into a team philosophy and not willing to make a commitment then you are of no good use to the team. And until players understand this . . . then they will never play for Bermuda.?

Last weekend saw several outstanding individual performances in the Two-Day League, including four centuries and a rare bowling hat-trick at Devonshire Recreation Club.

St.George?s? opener Oronde Bascome scored runs in buckets, compiling 192 over two days at St.John?s Road against Western Stars, while Devonshire all-rounder Dean Stephens produced a brutal innings of 114 off only 87 balls and then returned overall match figures of eight for 24 against Warwick at Southampton Oval.

St.David?s fast bowler Mackie Crane, overlooked for Bermuda?s current tour of Trinidad, produced a second innings hat-trick against Social Club at the Den, while Arthur Pitcher jr scored a century in the same match.

And it is performances such as these that have not gone unnoticed by selectors, Manders insisted.

?Oronde has already been in the squad but he just hasn?t committed himself fully as he has also been involved in football,? added Manders. ?But he has been training with us over the past couple of weeks and there is a possibility he can make the team if he can keep going.

?Oronde is technically sound and has the ability but it?s now up to him to become committed to the cause. That?s what we need at this particular stage in Bermuda cricket . . . committed players.

?Oronde is a young person and has plenty of time, but we may never enter the World Cup stage again.?

As for Stephens, Manders stated: ?Dean has always been a talented person. He was among those originally selected to train with the national team (before last year?s ICC Trophy) but for whatever reason he never trained with us.

?We?re looking for players who are going to be committed to the cause. It?s not all about showing up when you feel like it because if that?s the case they can remain at their clubs.?

And for those national team members who might think their spots have been secured, Manders warned they best think again.

?Nobody?s spot in the national team is cemented at this stage,? he said. ?And we are always on the lookout because nothing has been carved in stone.

?Right now we have a core squad and unless others on the outside do something superlative to get in, then that?s it for now because it?s not about bringing in 40 players for only one coach to work with for only a short period of time.

?But if people are continually performing throughout the season and meet the criteria, then they can possibly be brought in to the squad.?