Malachi Jones is among those tipped to be the next senior national cricket team captain.

And chairman of national team selectors Arnold Manders believes the 17-year-old Southampton Rangers all-rounder has what it takes to lead Bermuda on the international stage in years to come.

“He (Jones) certainly has a lot of potential although I think his batting still has to mature a lot. But I think he can become one of our better players in years to come and also one of our leaders,” said Manders, who captained Bermuda at the 1986 and 1990 ICC Trophy tournaments in Kenya and Holland.

Jones has yet to appear in the 2007 World Cup. But the Berkeley Institute student is making the absolute most of his time in the spotlight — particularly whenever the press core assemble at Bermuda’s practice sessions in the nets.

Manders continued: “I watched Malachi grow up at Southampton Rangers and he was also in my cricket camp for a couple of years. You could always see the talent in him and he’s certainly one of our better younger players and most consistent players.”

Following a successful campaign at the Sir Gary Sobers International Schools Tournament in Barbados last summer, Jones’ career took off. Manders believes Bermuda cricket will benefit from Jones’ superb all-round abilities.

“I think he can help us in both departments. He has the ability and is probably one of our best bowling prospects for the future,” he said.

Jones, Manders added, was just one of many bright future prospects the Island had at its disposal, with the likes of OJ Pitcher, Delyone Borden, Stefan Kelly and Stephen Outerbridge among the others.

“All of these players have already been under me at the Under-19 level and a lot of them also attended Berkeley. And I think they can go on and achieve something great,” he said.

“With the nucleus of young players we now have and the players we have left home through various reasons, I think our future looks bright.”