Over the years of playing and coaching cricket I have come across few cricketers with such love and passion for the game as Jason Anderson.

Jason is a student of the game and loves the game so much that you can often find him engaged in deep conversations about cricket.

Jason started his cricket as a youngster at St George’s Cricket Club. Later he would go on to play Cup Match for St George’s and then represent Bermuda. This Saturday he will be a colt for Cleveland County in his first Eastern Counties match, as Cleveland try to wrestle the trophy away from current champions St David’s.

Here is a Q & A with Jason ahead of the game.

Q: With this being your first Eastern County game for Cleveland County what would you like to achieve as an individual and as a team?

A: Putting team first, Cleveland County, despite our position in the league, are looking to play that no guts, no glory cricket. On paper we’ll have a capable side that if it plays to its potential can win. Personally, I am hoping to post a good score and contribute as much as I can.

Q: What are your thoughts on playing against the mighty St David’s who many think will breeze through the Eastern Counties unscathed?

A: St David’s are a very good unit let’s not play it down, all around they have players who can win matches and are good thinking cricketers. To back them they have a coach who in my opinion is one of the greatest local cricketers of all-time and when you have someone like that who has moulded himself into a technical mastermind you are going to get results. It’s going to take a gutsy effort to topple them. On the flip side, early wickets are important and if we can get certain people out cheap the pressure will be on. For us batting will be the key, especially if we get within striking distance.

Q: Cricket is very dear to your heart, what are your thoughts on where you see Bermuda cricket heading?

A: Now is a great time to be a promising young cricketer in Bermuda. There is a large pool of young cricketers doing well both abroad and locally, arguably more than ever seen. I believe that with careful, technical and honest planning we should be able to develop young players who can perform at international level and Division 3 is a good place to start, as it is not overbearing in terms of developmental process. To move forward calls for higher thinking and careful management at the Board level, which should see us get better internationally in the next five years.

Q: Cup Match is just around the corner, can we expect to see you pushing for a spot in the classic?

A: Of course I’d like to be involved once again, it would be an honour. Cup Match should be on the mind of all elite cricketers; not only in reference to the game, but the historic significance as well. I wasn’t included in the first two trials this year for whatever reasons, but played in the third, a St George’s Club XI against Cleveland, in which I scored 67 runs. Hopefully that was noted and I look forward to being involved in the final trial to push my bid for a recall.

Q: Having talked with you recently I know you have some major concerns with the Cup Match selection policy. Care to elaborate on them?

A: I am a believer that if a player performs he should play. If he is doing well in the league and follows it up in the trials he not only should play, but he has to play, as he has earned it.

What we have seen over the years is a player who has performed being snubbed for players who have not or because someone has so called potential. When these things occur it goes down as club politics, when in reality it’s biased, unfair and wrong and clubs should be held accountable.

Q: You were not included in the Bermuda squad for whatever reasons, but do you think the road for youngsters in the squad is made too easy, whereas years ago you had to earn the right to play for your country through performance?

A: Yes and no. Where our cricket is internationally right now we have to get youngsters involved so we can develop, but it has to be quality youngsters, not just any youngster, because international cricket is for the elite.

Q: Cleveland County fans keep reminding all of us that it’s been 33 years since we last won the Eastern Counties outright. What would a victory mean this Saturday against the champions St David’s?

A: The Harris Bay community is a very close and family orientated place. I’ve known people from “The Hole” since my younger days. Despite little success in Eastern Counties, they love their cricket and to win for them would be a great achievement. Hopefully all of the Cleveland supporters will come out because on paper this Saturday’s game has the making of a classic.

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Being a wicketkeeper Jason is often seen on the field talking non-stop, and he is the same way off the field whenever cricket is being discussed.

Hence, he has been given the nickname “Radio” by his Cleveland team-mates. Cricket needs more players like Jason who has the love and passion for the game that is missing dearly from our current day cricketers.

In a recent conversation I had with Jason and his team-mates the question was asked, “If St David’s are supposed to be such a good team why is it that they always field first? Is it because they don’t have confidence in their team to bat first”?

Maybe this Saturday we will find out.

Quote of the week: I won’t predict anything historic. But nothing is impossible

— Michael Phelps