Next year will be a momentous and historical one for Bermuda cricket, marking the first time the Island have appeared in a World Cup . . . and nobody?s looking forward to it more than former players and current Bermuda Cricket Board officials Allan Douglas and Allen Richardson.

But as the clock continues to tick both are aware that there?s much to be done if the the Board?s long and short-term objectives are to be met.

Both men have much in common, having previously kept behind the stumps for Cleveland and St.David?s Cricket Clubs and represented St.George?s in Cup Match.

?I don?t think the enormity of this occasion has really sunk in and hopefully we can raise the awareness and importance this occasion warrants. I think we still have to work diligently with the coaches and players to get everyone on an even keel,? Douglas told .

BCB senior executive Richardson concurred.

?The first step that I saw within my area (youth committee) was to bring our existing coaches up to the standard and level the Board requires in order to deliver a first class product . . . coaching cricket to our youngsters.?

Last month saw England and Wales Cricket Board (EWCB) coaching instructors fly to Bermuda to conduct level one and two coaching courses for local coaches at the Bermuda College and Dellwood School gymnasium.

Richardson described the venture as a roaring success.

?It was an absolute smashing success,? he enthused. ?We had 18 coaches complete the level one course and seven do the level two coaching course and all indications are that they all passed.

?The coaches (instructors) were very impressed with the standard of coaching and information and knowledge they had. And now we in turn must put that knowledge to good use and identify areas in Bermuda where these coaches can actually go out and assist.?

The two BCB officials would also like to see Bermuda represented on the international stage at an administrative level.

Prior to 1997, Bermuda had representation on both the ICC Development and Qualification committees which made a number of influential decisions regarding the the international game.

Today the Island is a mere spectator in an area where it once flexed its muscles.

Douglas, who scored an unbeaten 36 for Bermuda against Zimbabwe in the 1982 ICC Trophy final in Leiceste, noted: ?We had powerful voices in the past at different levels of the ICC. How long will it take before we are again represented at that level? I don?t know.

?But it has been mandated that every country be treated equally and receive an equal share. This means that all of the smaller countries (Associate Members) are now being looked after.?

Bermuda is credited as being one of the co-founders of the ICC Trophy competition. Englishman John Gardiner was the founding member and the BCB, under the leadership of Alma (Champ) Hunt, supported the concept.

The tournament eventually came to fruition in 1974 with Bermuda debuting in 1979.

After the United Arab Emirates (UAE) swept to ICC Trophy victory in 1994 in Kenya with a team predominantly comprised of former Pakistani and Indian Test players, it was tiny Bermuda who stood up to the rest of the world and lobbied for tougher regulations to be mandated to ensure a level playing field among all Associate countries.

Richardson added: ?There is no reason why Bermudians cannot be placed on the executive level of the Americas (ICC) region and that is something we need to get involved with as well so that we can have a bigger say.?

In the late 1980s Bermuda forwarded a proposal to the ICC requesting that the tournament be played outside of England at the venue of an Associate member, with Holland becoming the first other country to host the event in 1990.

Bermuda also proposed that at least one Associate member be represented at the World Cup, Zimbabwe being the first to earn the honour after defeating Bermuda by five wickets in the 1982 ICC Trophy final and advancing to the 1983 World Cup in England.

On the back of Zimbabwe?s success, Bermuda then proposed to have two Associate members qualify for the World Cup in 1992.

UAE thus travelled to the 1996 World Cup that was co-hosted by Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan.

Bermuda also backed the West Indies? bid to stage the 2007 World Cup during meetings in the Caribbean in 1996, were instrumental in the introduction of the third umpire (television replays) into first class cricket and supported the West Indies Cricket Board?s (WICB) proposal to reinstate South Africa to Test status in 1997.

Bermuda have maintained amicable relations with the WICB since 1984.

Bermuda laid the groundwork to have Canada and the USA represented in the Red Stripe competition in the early 1990s and also played an integral role in having umpires from Associate member countries officiate in various regional tournaments.

The Island also went to bat for the likes of Namibia, Nepal, Ireland and Scotland in their bids to obtain Associate membership between 1994 and 1995.

Between 1984 and 1997 Bermuda hosted the likes of Marleyborne Cricket Club (MCC), Pakistan, India, New Zealand Ambassadors, Australia (twice), Antigua, Yorkshire, West Indies ?A?, England ?A?, Ireland and the Hyderabad Blues on three occasions.

Bermuda also hosted and won the 1985 International Youth Tournament - six years after winning under the captaincy of Charlie Marshall in Toronto.

And the Island also previously played against USA and Canada for the Sir Henry Tucker Cup, a tournament that was played on a round robin basis.