Bermuda's senior cricketers who failed to support the recent four-match tour by Barbados, as well as national coach Mark Harper, have been heavily criticised by a wide cross-section of the Island's sporting public.

In a Royal Gazette poll, fans, former players and administrators were asked what could be done to encourage leading players to represent their country, and should the senior international programme be scrapped for the next year while Bermuda Cricket Board take stock of mounting problems.

Here's what they had to say:

PHILLIP SMITH: "I was among the few who went to see what I thought would be a competitive, action-filled tour series involving Barbados and our various select squads.

"But instead I was embarrassed to be a fan of Bermuda cricket.

"The senior players who didn't bother to come out are a disgrace and should not be considered for any further selection.

"What is needed to inspire them? I really don't know, and neither do they.

"Yes, scrapping the senior international programme for a while seems to be a fine to me."

JANET LIGHTBOURNE: "I love cricket but there's no excuse for what our senior players did during the Barbados tour.

"I believe Bermuda should forget about the senior players and concentrate on the youth players.

"It's clear to me that the seniors don't want to play. When they pass up the opportunity to play against gifted players like the Barbadians, it disgusts me.

"Yes, they should scrap the international senior programme and wait a few years until the new crop of players come though."

MANSFIELD SMITH: "I certainly don't think any international programme should be scrapped because we need a continuous programme.

"What I would do is give the players a break from playing right now, about a two-month spell and then name a squad with the captain playing an integral part in the selection for competitions scheduled for next year.

"They will train together by getting physically fit first and then proceed with the normal training."

GREGORY FOGGO SR.: "I don't know what the answer is when it comes to finding a way to inspire these modern day players.

"When I was coming up it was a privilege to play against touring teams, we used to take time off from work to play against them regardless of whether it was a Tuesday, Thursday or whatever.

"It's just pathetic to see players refusing to play like they did against Barbados.

"For future international commitments I would disregard the senior players who refused to play and concentrate on the younger players like O.J. Pitcher and the rest of the Under-21s.

"But I would like to see us continue in tournaments like the ICC (Trophy)."

WARRINGTON (SOUP) ZUILL: "Firstly, I think the inspiration must come from team management and then our government.

"Our players need an avenue where they can get off from work and receive decent pay packages in order that they can have the time to prepare for tournaments, etc.

"Some kind of remuneration is a necessity. But I also feel that it is time that our black businesses showed some responsibility and got behind our players. Remember some of these business people played cricket and soccer and benefited greatly financially from the two, but unfortunately they are not putting anything back into the sport.

"As far as scrapping the international programme is concerned, I think it would be right to do so for about a year or two.

"But we should continue to have the younger senior players in training to keep them in shape until the others come along.

"I noticed during (Brian) Lara's visit that our players were afraid of being exposed to good foreigners."

JOHN GIBBONS: "I feel that the senior players not only let Somerset Cricket Club down but they let all of Bemuda down during the Barbados tour.

"It was a disgrace, what more can I say.

"It is foolish for Bermuda to even think of getting them involved in any international competition, why waste the time and effort."

GEORGE BREMAR: "What we have to do is get back to basics.

"Firstly, Bermuda needs a top class national coach, that's for sure and it's urgent.

"During the Barbados tour I was asked by local West Indians if I thought (Mark) Harper was a good coach and I told them no, and they agreed.

"We need to start with the Under-19s, the senior players are gone, we can't teach them a thing.

"We have to scrap the senior international programme altogether, we have to get the youngsters organised and train them as a unit under a good coach.

"We were never prepared for the Barbados tour, we should have had a squad of 30 players assembled with four or five training sessions arranged for them.

"Putting such a squad of players up against the visitors we would have seen a gigantic difference.

"We need an ex-Test player to teach our youngsters, a coach to start from the bottom because he wouldn't be able to drill anything into the heads of the senior players we have today.

"Harper definitely isn't the man for the job, he has proven that he cannot inspire anybody."

DANIKA GIBBONS: "We need to assemble players to form a national squad who really want to represent their country, appoint a captain early and have them all train properly for international matches in order to be competitive.

"As I see it the only person to take charge of a team as captain is Clay Smith, like him or dislike him.

"As a player he is the best person for the job. He has cricket in his blood, he thrives on challenges, he knows the game and he wants the job.

"The time has come to give him this chance, let him lead the way to get players together so that Bermuda can form a good squad."

MICHAEL THOMPSON: "Let's stick with the youth, pick a captain and what few committed players we have left and go from there.

"Coach Mark Harper must go along with those senior players who are obviously not interested in representing their country."

SIDNEY SIMMONS: "The less said about Bermuda cricketers at this time the better. The no-shows failed us badly."

RUPERT SIMMONS: "We need the mentality of the old players to come back.

"Can you imagine players like Sheridan Raynor, Clarence Parfitt, Calvin (Bummy Symonds), Joe Bailey losing out on an opportunity to play against top touring teams. Not on your life!

"Kick out these players who failed us, they are not worth the ground they stand on and they cannot be inspired any longer.

"Coach Harper is just as useless."

LEROY BURGESS: "Our players simply disrespected hosts Somerset as well as the tourists themselves and the public at large.

"It was a bad time for Bermuda cricket in general and all I can say about our so called elite senior players is that the cricket board must give them the boot and say good riddance."