It is the month of Cup Match and already you can feel the vibe in the air.

This is the month when all cricketers aim to be at their best and try to impress.

For the first time in 22 years I will be witnessing Cup Match in a different light. Having retired from the classic last year, I now enter Cup Match as coach of St.George's.

Cup Match has been good to me over the years. There have been highs and there have been lows, but every good thing must come to an end.

Sitting thinking back of all that transpired over my Cup Match experiences, I cannot help but smile.

My two most memorable innings of all was scoring my first century and my last century.

The first century was memorable because in the same game my brother Wendell scored his first century as well and we both dedicated our innings to my late Papa Ralph.

My last century was just as unforgettable, not only because I became the first person to score three centuries, but because as I ran the single to get the hundred my daughter Hailey was the first on the field to jump in my arms and congratulate me. That is a Cup Match moment I will treasure forever.

On the flip side of things there were those Cup Matches that I wish I could forget. Two in particular come to mind:

n My first year as captain when we lost Cup Match up in Somerset.

n Then came the year when I joined a special elite club of cricketers by having record scores of 0 and 0 in both innings.

One thing I had to learn as a cricketer though is that you have to learn to take the good with the bad.

Now that I have come to the end of a journey there is a small part of me that still wishes I was playing, because there is one goal that I set for myself that eluded me.

Scoring a double century in Cup Match was a dream of mine and I know I still have it in me, but I have decided to leave something for my sons Jonte' or Clay to achieve in their future.

Now that I am coaching it's a whole new ball game as not only do I have to prepare the team, but I think the key is selecting the right team.

In St.George's I can tell you there is a lot of competition going on for places and I know it is probably the same at Somerset. Players are starting to feel the pressure, people are starting to talk about their Cup Match selections and the radios are starting to play the famous Soca song "Cup Match time in Bermuda".

This years Cup Match Classic will bring excitement for sure. Often times as players and as coaches you can sense something in the air. Both clubs have been and still are having trial matches in an effort to select the strongest team.

In Somerset, shuffling has been going on in their administrative department with the club President taking over the Cricket Chairman position temporarily, but that shows you how important the position is.

Surprisingly, Somerset have overlooked their league coach Ricky Hoyte for former player Ricky Hill, a move that has caused a big stir-up around the club. Since which Mark Trott has resigned from chairman of selectors, but one doesn't know if this is a reflection of the coach's situation or not.

Down in St.George's preparations have started to make the field look first-class. Workers are there day in, and day out, preparing the grounds so that the spectators can be treated to an environment that is unparalled in Bermuda

From a playing point of view there is loads of competition for places.

Already in St. George's we know there are going to be at least three changes from last year's team. With Tre Govia out injured, Arthur Pitcher Jr. stepping away from cricket for a bit and myself retired. The question becomes who will fill the gaps, only time will tell.

Somerset have set the tone for Cup Match already as they have tried to once again pip one of our players from us in Justin Pitcher, but he is 100% committed to St.George's and we are very excited to hear that.

There is one player however that I have high on my radar that has played in Somerset's trials before. I rate him highly and will certainly be doing all that I can to get him come to St.George's as I see him as my long term successor, whose name I will keep a mystery.

Every week from now up until Cup Match I will be doing various articles on Cup Match, as I think it is important to hype the game up and get people in the Cup Match spirit early.

Besides, this is our biggest sporting holiday and we cannot forget the meaning behind it all, which in itself is another article. I urge Bermuda to start wearing and flashing your colors and get in the mood because Cup Match is merely three weeks away.