With the cricket transfer deadline quickly approaching us on March 31st one cannot help but start feeling the cricket fever.

This week Dwayne Leverock basically set the standard by winning the Male Athlete of the Year Award for 2007, thus showing why I did everything possible to get him to transfer to Cleveland this season.

In the bowling department he has been the rock of Bermuda's bowling for years. Therefore, I am throwing out a challenge to all the players in Bermuda to try and outplay him this season or any one of my top five picks for this season in their respective categories.

Below I have given you who I feel will be the best five players in each of their respective categories and why.

In order for any person to be eligible for selection they had to be a current player, having played either at the national level or domestic level last season.

I have excluded myself from all categories

Batting: My top five bats, are: Glen Blakeney, Ricky Hoyte, Chris Foggo, Janeiro Tucker, OJ Pitcher.

I have to say I am a fond Glen Blakeney fan as I have seen this guy destroy many bowling attacks.

When he is serious about his game there is no other batsman in Bermuda better then him.

At the end of the day his ability to bat various bowling attacks and score freely while under control makes him an easy choice for me.

Bowling: Dwayne Leverock, Delyone Borden, Kevin Hurdle, Tamauri Tucker, Malachi Jones.

No-one has come close to taking over from Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock as of yet.

He is a warrior who loves the battle. Many worry about his size, but what they don't see is the size of his heart for the game, it is huge and unfortunately there is no-one remotely close to his calibre at this time.

All-rounder: Janeiro Tucker, Lionel Cann, Rodney Trott, Derrick Brangman, Malachi Jones.

Janeiro is class with a capital C. When he is mentally into playing he is a class above the rest.

Janeiro is one of the three most naturally gifted players we have on this island. He is what I consider a match winner.

Fielding category: Dean Minors, Azeem Pitcher, Jekon Edness, Rodney Trott, Jason Anderson.

Dean brings with him loads of experience and having to succeed a great keeper like Allan Douglas has helped him maintain an extremely high standard. He is clean, smooth, and energetic, irreplaceable at the top.

Captaincy: Lionel Cann, Irving Romaine, Rodney Trott, Kwame Tucker, Ryan Steede.

Lionel to me is the best captain we have on the island at the moment.

He was my understudy at St. David's for years and even I at times had to humble myself and listen to the advice that he gave.

He is a true winner and has the passion and drive that can motivate players around him.

The extra responsibility would curb his aggression and help make him a better rounded player.

Best Wicket: St. David's, Somerset, St.George's, Police Field, Rangers.

This was probably the easiest category out of the bunch as St. David's wicket is by far the best on the island and has been for at least the last five years.

Not only is the wicket top notch, but also the entire field is kept in immaculate condition throughout the playing season.

All of the players I have at the top of my categories are players who have dominated cricket in Bermuda for years and will continue dominating cricket for years to come until one, they decide to stop playing or, two, others step up to the plate to challenge them.

Who will have the courage this season to set personal bests in their own strengths as a cricketer? My challenge to all the players who do not fit into any of these categories is to step your game up and see if you can prove me wrong.

Instead of a motto this week I would like people to e-mail me at claysmith60@hotmail.com if they have a specific topic they would like for me to discuss in future writings.