Two teams who may find the going tough this year are Bailey’s Bay Cricket Club and St George’s Cricket Club. Both have an abundance of players in school in England and could struggle at the beginning of the season. Will the overseas players be a big miss or will other players within their team step up to the plate?

First, Bay will have at least four missing from their ranks at the start of the season, with Tre Manders, Delray Rawlins, Nhyrobi Carmichael and Terryn Fray abroad. Unfortunately, for Bay, they have a very tough start to the season, having to play Willow Cuts and Southampton Rangers in their first two league games. If Bay are to have any chance of being league champions again, they will have to find a way to get through this tough start.

When you look at the talent that Bay have missing at the start of the season, it will be a big ask for other players to fill the void. Terryn, Tre and Delray are all Bermuda players and very talented. Nhyrobi, on the other hand, has played for Bermuda at the youth level, but is destined to reach the top soon. Recently, in his first game for Ifield Cricket Club in England, he had outstanding bowling figures of six wickets for 11 runs, which shows that he is realising his potential as a bowler.

I would be very surprised if Irving Romaine, the Bay head coach, did not put on the pads early in the season. His leadership qualities and his ability, with both bat and ball, will be needed in these players’ absence. However, if Irving opts not to play, Bay have other players who are talented enough, but will have to take their games to another level.

St George’s also have an abundance of players missing the start of the season while overseas. Zico Burgess, Onias Bascome, Oronde Bascome, Christian Burgess and Okera Bascome represent virtually half their team, with the first four listed all part of the Cup Match team from last year.

St George’s also have a tough start to the league, with Southampton Rangers and Bailey’s Bay being their first two league games. With the league starting a week late and St George’s having a bye on the second week, the east-enders will hope to have one or two of their players back by then, which will help tremendously.

This brings me to my next point and a very interesting one at that. Yes, we want these players to come back to Bermuda to help to strengthen our league, but should they come back or should they be staying in England chasing their dream?

These young men are all very gifted in their own way and all have the potential to go on to bigger and better things. How does playing in Bermuda enhance their chances of achieving such? It doesn’t. If anything, by them coming back to Bermuda to play, it actually decreases the chance of them making it at a higher level.

Clubs in England are always looking at players who can improve their programmes, but to do that, one must be producing week in and week out in England. My thing is, if you are good enough, why not chase that dream?

Cup Match is a big occasion and several of the boys from both clubs will be looking to come back and stake a claim in their respective teams, but at what cost? Bermuda is aching for a professional cricketer.

I encourage these young men to think big and not to confine themselves to Cup Match. The world is their oyster. Go out there and strive to be the best Bermudian cricketer ever.

Quote of the week: “I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.”

— Kobe Bryant