An aggressive cricket revival appears to be underway.

After years of decline, the popular summer game, which has been losing its prominence, is getting an injection of ideas from both prominent ex-players and respected members of the community.

Among those announced yesterday by the new administration of the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control are a number of former Cup Match players, including Calvin (Bummy) Symonds, Randy Horton, Sheridan Raynor, Rupert Scotland, Colin Blades, Shiraz Ali, Lionel Thomas, Dennis Wainwright and Winston Trott.

Other ex-players, officials and prominent officials joining up include chairman of the cricket Testimonial Committee Custerfield Crockwell, St. Clair Tucker, George Rock, Janet Todd, Stephen West and lawyer Paul King.

And there are several others who are said to have offered their services to new president El James. They include members of the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association, who are keen to be represented on the board after an absence of several years.

"I am really pleased with the response that we have received,'' said James, whose new executive took over in July after the forced resignation of the previous one headed by Ed Bailey.

He added: "Everybody was very eager. Most made themselves available to help out because they all have a genuine interest in the sport. They all recognise the fact that this lovely sport of cricket needed all of our energies to get it back to where we all would be happy...so we are all going to give it our best shot.

"Now that we have established our various committees, we are now concentrating on planning our domestic schedule for next season. The thing that we are particularly anxious about is getting the various junior competitions started, including the Shell Youth Cup which we are thrilled to see confirmed already and other junior progammes.'' James and his new group have been concerned about various programmes that had been neglected -- omissions that have led to a degeneration of the sport at a playing and administration level for close to a decade.

Of particular concern to the new executive has been the scarcity of new blood available to replace older players because of a lack of a properly organised youth programme since the Shell Youth Cup was halted more then seven years ago.

St. Clair (Brinky) Tucker, who called for a change in the administration, said that it was an easy decision for him to get involved because the new administration was more conscious of the problems that existed in the sport, more willing to accept change and more open and friendly.

"I have the greatest respect for El and his new committee and after speaking at length with El, allowing him the opportunity to explain his plans and vision on cricket, I thought it was fitting that I volunteer myself to serve wherever he saw fit,'' said Tucker.

"I'm sure other players saw similar views. I think you are going to see a lot of players coming out and becoming involved, people who lay dormant in the past as far as giving their assitance. Now they are deciding that perhaps now is the time to help the Board.

"They realise that the standard of cricket was deteriorating rapidly, year by year. In the short time I have been involved I have already seen a great change for the better.

"The good thing is that it can only get better as time goes on and I just hope that the public will show a bit of patience and don't expect a miracle overnight because there is a lot of work to be done.''