Dear Sir,

Please allow me some space in your newspaper to express my thoughts on local cricket.

With respect to the race for the BCBC presidency, Reggie Pearman and his supporters emphasise ‘continuity and experience’ as the main reasons why he should be president.

While it is well and good to want ‘continuity’ I would suggest it all depends on your view of the direction in which Bermuda cricket would continue — i.e. up or down.

‘Experience’ was the other reason given as to why Pearman is the man for the job. In fact the candidate himself admits that he has served on the Board for 25 years. This means he has been at the very heart of the decision-making process with respect to Bermuda cricket for a quarter of a century and as such must take either some credit for the progress made, or responsibility for decline, in the state of the game during that time.

You be the judge. I suppose the clubs will decide for themselves at the next AGM.

The other candidate Keith Wainwright is a solid opening bat for Southampton Rangers who was very unlucky not to have been selected for Somerset’s Cup Match team this year.

As President of the Western Counties Association, he and his team have introduced innovative changes in their attempts to revive the popularity of that competition and while they have some way to go to bring it back to its former glory they have nevertheless made a great start.

The only problem I foresee with Keith is that he still has a lot to offer the game as a player and should he become president and decides to continue to play he could find himself in situations where a conflict of interest might arise.

On another note, Bermuda is slated to compete in the Americas tournament in Argentina in March, which is not that far away. I would suggest that the Board scale down their original training squad to the following 18 and begin serious preparation in January.

All of those chosen should be committed to the tour and the Board must insist that those currently playing league football stop.

Suggested squad: Clay Smith (captain) (SDCC); Kwame Tucker (SRSC); Janiero Tucker (vice-captain) (SRSC); Dale Fox (SDCC); Albert Steede (WSSC); Oliver Pitcher (SDCC); Herbie Bascome (SGCC); Garry Williams (SRSC); Glen Blakeney (SDCC); Stephen Outerbridge (BBCC); Dwayne Leverock (WSSC); Dennis Pilgrim (BBCC); Wendell White (SCC); Mackie Crane (SGCC); Lionel Cann (SDCC); Chris Foggo (SDCC); Hasan Durham (WSSC); Dion Stovell (WWC).

I recognise that many are sceptical about Clay Smith becoming Bermuda captain, taking into account some of the controversy that has surrounded him in the past. From a purely cricketing perspective, as captain of St. David’s and as a player, he has done more than enough to earn the right to lead this country.

On a final note, I read with interest the proposals made by national cricket coach Mark Harper to revamp the local game, most of which I wholeheartedly agree.

However, I do have reservations about one of his proposals. That being that all local cricket be restricted to limited over matches.

I cannot agree with this, limited over matches lead to limited cricketers. I doubt St.Clair ‘Brinky’ Tucker, Clarence ‘Tuppence’ Parfitt, or Winston ‘Coe’ Trott would have become the great bowlers they did if when they had started playing the game they had been restricted to 10 overs a game.

The limited over match will also hinder the development of young batsmen as it does not afford them time to play themselves in — they are pressured from the outset to score quickly.

Most of our leading local batsmen, including Charlie Marshall, Albert Steede and even Glen Blakeney, began their senior cricketing career playing open cricket.

I would suggest that the BCBC focus on playing open cricket up to Cup Match, with the limited overs Knock-Out Trophy matches interspersed.

This would provide players with the proper platform to develop, find their form and assist in the preparation of those in contention for the Annual Cup Match Classic. Once Cup Match is over then limited over competitions can begin in earnest.

Merry Christmas to all.

Recman