No place for manders in England tour squad
Bermuda Cricket Board of Control announced the squad yesterday to tour England from June 6-20.
Manders and fellow Cup Match stalwart Olin Jones of Southampton Rangers were two of four who were put on a waiting list.
Instead, debut senior national tour spots go to St. George's trio Clay Smith, Dean Minors and Kenny Phillips. The other first-timers at this level are Del Hollis of Cleveland and Jeff Richardson of Western Stars.
The 14-member squad, including skipper Wendell Smith, has eight returnees from the failed 1990 ICC Trophy Tournament in Holland -- the others being vice-captain Darrin Lewis, Ricky Hill, Arnold Manders, Noel Gibbons, Terry Burgess, Anthony Edwards and Gary Brangman.
Minors and Smith, who have been away in school since the national squad began training in November, are seen to be integral parts of the country's future.
And with Albert Steede ruled out because of work commitments, the board has only vice-captain Darrin Lewis, Smith, Minors and Hollis in the form of youngsters.
Recalled are Clevie Wade, who missed the last ICC tournament through injury, and Charlie Marshall who has regained the confidence of the selectors after a disciplinary problems on his last overseas tour -- the 1986 ICC tournament in England.
As was the case in 1990 when Maxwell Curtis was the lone spinner, that area remains a problem for the selectors. Hollis is the only specialist spinner, though all-rounder Manders will be first choice.
Phillips has been a surprisingly consistent strike bowler throughout the winter and his responsibilities on tour will be to share the new ball with Burgess, who is the Island's leading fast bowler, providing he stays healthy.
And that raises the possibility of a fourth Western Stars player making the trip as Allan Brangman is the only bowler on stand-by. The other player in waiting is Jason Lewis of Nationals.
Richardson is being rewarded for his commitment to training and a willingness to revive his wicket-keeping talents when only he and Allan Douglas were in the training squad.
And with Douglas recently pulling out of the squad after he lost the captaincy, Richardson was an obvious choice as a back-up to Minors, Bermuda's 'keeper of the future.
Englishman Doug Ferguson will be returning to Bermuda next week to prepare the squad for the tour. The tour manager is Reginald Pearman and the team manager is McDonald Swan.
DEAN MINORS -- Will make his national debut at senior level.