CRICKET'S World Cup in which Bermuda made history now seems a distant memory.It was, in fact, just four years ago. The next World Cup will start later this month in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh the latter two having been among Bermuda's opponents last time around.The results of those matches are best not mentioned.But the 2007 edition, no doubt, will be remembered by players and fans, maybe the entire Bermuda population, such was its impact on the sporting world.However, it will be recalled with mixed emotions.Bermuda became the smallest nation ever to compete in cricket's showpiece event.That, unfortunately, wasn't the only record set.They were beaten by the highest margin (India smashed 413 and Bermuda replied with 156), and our team compiled the lowest innings by any previous qualifiers 78 against Sri Lanka (321-6).Not that that should have come as any surprise.In truth, the national team only made the trip to the Caribbean having placed second in the easiest qualifying group a year before in Ireland.And in the year leading up to the World Cup they had given little indication that as the competition's minnows they could pull off what would have been the biggest upset since W.G. Grace picked up a bat.What will be remembered, and always will be, is the stunning catch in the slips by Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock on the first ball of Malachi Jones' first over, dismissing Indian opener R.V. Uthappa.That catch was seen by millions of TV viewers around the world, everyone stunned by the athleticsm of by far the biggest man in the tournament.Diving to his right and at full stretch he held onto the ball in a manner which would have made any Test player proud.Former England football star Gary Lineker, hosting the BBC's annual awards in Britain, quipped: “That's the first time any batsman has been caught by first, second and third slip.”Knowing the ever-smiling Sluggo, he would have had a chuckle himself at that comment.His heavyweight frame had never stopped him from being the leading spin bowler in Bermuda one of the best this Island has ever produced.Evidence of that came in the form of Bermuda's pre-World Cup match against England in St. Vincent when he added the scalps of Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood to his already impressive resumé.Outside international cricket, there can't have been many bowlers who could make the same claim.But the euphoria of July, 2007, has long been forgotten.Sadly Bermuda cricket has spiralled down at an alarming rate.There was never a chance our national team could qualify for this month's World Cup. Aside from the dismal results against fellow Associate countries, the change of the qualification criteria made it practically impossible for tiny countries to reach the finals.Yet another change in the rules dictates only 10 teams will be at the next tournament in 2015.Bermuda's challenge now is to become the best in the region and become a force among the Associates.So far there's no evidence that will happen anytime soon.In the four years since those halycon days in Trinidad the national team have plummeted from bad to worse.New coach David Moore who replaced the frustrated former West Indies Test player Gus Logie last year, will already have discovered the task in hand might be more difficult than he ever had imagined.So far his tenure has been marked by a no-nonsene approach which means that anyone who has aspirations to play for the national team will abide by his rules or stay at home.Talented or not, they will be ignored unless they show the commitment and enthusiasm which wasn't always apparent among previous national team players.Bowler Saleem Mukkedem, the only non-Bermudian in the last World Cup, made his feelings shown when he returned to his native South Africa.He expressed his disgust at the behaviour of some of his team-mates before, during and after the 2007 event.Coach Logie, while rarely commenting on off-the-field incidents, was known to have been, at times, furious at the lack of commitment.His contract was not renewed last year and had he been given the chance, he would have almost certainly declined.The future of Bermuda cricket now lies in the hands of our youngsters, those in the Under-19 team currently playing in the regional Under-19 World Cup qualifiers in Florida.But until the ICC (International Cricket Council) put their foot down as regards the make-up of other regional teams, they face an uphill climb.In Florida this week, the Canada team contained just one player born in Canada the rest came from the sub-continent or the Caribbean. The US team was much the same.While the ICC continue to let that happen, Bermuda will never be allowed to compete on a level playing field.And if they were, there's still a long, long way to distinguish themselves on the international stage.Moore has ambitions to reach that goal. Hopefully he'll enjoy more success than his predecessor.