It seems as if the entire cricket world was looking for us to fail to qualify, well you got your wishes and still you continue to criticise.

Well, let the record show that I love my country and it is about time for someone to stand up for Bermuda and defend us against these insensitive, prejudiced reports.

Cricinfo and the ICC would like us to believe that they have been fair to us, but they haven't. The reality is that ever since little old Bermuda, which is merely 22-square miles long qualified for Cricket World Cup, the ICC and Cricinfo have been awaiting our demise.

Four years ago Bermuda shocked the cricket world by qualifying for Cricket World Cup. While I would like to think that the ICC were impressed and proud of us, by their actions with respect to changes to the tournament, I seriously wonder.

What was the motive behind the new changes to the tournament?

In my opinion the new system was set up to make sure that we as a small country did not qualify again.

Let's look at the way that the tournament was set up previously. Teams were paired off into two groups, evenly selected based on how each team was ranked. From the two groups the top two teams automatically went to Cricket World Cup and the two teams that finished third in each group played a play-off game to see who also went to Cricket World Cup.

Bermuda shocked the cricketing world last time around by finishing second in our group thus gaining automatic qualification.

So this time around what does ICC do?

Well they still had the two groups, but arguably, because of Bermuda's success they went a step further by adding the Super Eight round just in case Bermuda did advance, knowing that this would reduce our chances of success.

Not only that, but they also brought Kenya back into the fold who for years have been playing with the Test teams. So why bring them back in and make them qualify all over again? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see their ploy.

However, the buck does not stop there. The ICC then decided that the top six teams would automatically gain four-day status and they (ICC) would select the remaining two teams. What a joke!

Did they assume that we would finish seventh or eighth? Inquiring minds want to know?

Any bets that the ICC does not give Bermuda four-day status even though we hold the record for the highest score in one innings by a team, having scored 620 runs against the mighty Netherlands.

This brings me back to my friends at Cricinfo, Will Luke and Martin Williamson, who feel they are cricket experts.

They state, "Poor David Hemp who topped the overall averages with 557 runs at 185.66, batting and fielding with the professionalism and self pride you would expect with nobody for support". I will stop right there.

This report is totally biased and unfair. Are you telling me that David Hemp was the only player on the team that did anything credible or worth speaking about?

My suggestion is for you to go back to the tournament stats and find that Steven Outerbridge finished seventh overall in the batting averages with an average of 60.83. Glen Blakeney also batted well, averaging 41.25 through the tournament.

From the bowling aspect Rodney (Picnic) Trott amassed 14 wickets, while taking two four-wicket hauls, which is a tremendous achievement.

Lastly, we have Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock who also bowled well and had one of the lowest economy rates by any bowler in the tournament with an economy rate of 3.41.

On top of that, I can assure you that no other bowler had single games stats that read 10 overs, five maidens, one wicket for 13 runs. Do you still think David Hemp was the only major contributor on the Bermuda team?

David Hemp did a tremendous job for Bermuda; he was phenomenal to say the least. Even though he received three MVP awards I can guarantee you that he would trade any two of his centuries if he could have batted well against UAE and Afghanistan.

If Bermuda were going to qualify we had to beat either UAE or Afghanistan and those are the two games that David Hemp failed to score any runs.

So while we can sit and look at the final product and all say, "well done" David, because he did us proud, the reality is that he along with other batsmen failed us when we needed them most.

The cricketing world believed that since Bermuda cricket had been given a substantial amount of funding after qualification, that we would automatically qualify again.

The reality is money has been a major part of our problem since we qualified. The last team that qualified for Cricket World Cup never obtained their just reward for their achievements.

People talk about where is your country pride, well where was the pride from others when we did qualify?

Readers, answer this question for me. How is it possible for the wages for a Cup Match player to be almost equal to the reward given to a player who just helped his country qualify for the Cricket World Cup for the first time in history? How much appreciation is that? And people wonder why the players always want to get the money right before they commit their all. As the saying goes, once bitten twice shy.

Lastly, I want to address one of Bermuda's greatest ever cricketers Mr. Clarence Parfitt.

Reading his article in the Mid-Ocean News, I was startled when he stated: "Many of Bermuda's players could not make any of the first teams in Scotland".

Is this the same Scotland team that plummeted to a sixth place finish after previously winning the tournament?

No, they may not have had the money Bermuda had, but what they did have was the resources, which is far more important than money. Scotland have spent the last few years playing over in England preparing for this tournament.

I wonder if Parfitt is asking for heads to role in his new homeland after they too have failed to qualify.

Does this mean that Scotland cricket is on the downslide too? Just thinking, did Luke and Will of Cricinfo hammer Scotland for their downfall?

Scotland were thumped by Afghanistan in the play-offs by 89 runs. Will Cricinfo show that they are not biased and slam Scotland like they have slammed Bermuda? No!

Amazingly people would rather pick on a tiny little country like Bermuda who have merely 30 quality cricketers to choose from compared to a massive country like Scotland who have in a modest view three times the amount of quality cricketers as us, plus far more resources.

With all that being said, we need to focus on finding a solution to our problem. So Bermuda, I leave you with these five recommendations for success in the future.

1. We must continue with our grass roots programmes, but in each year level identify 10 kids as our elite group and give them specialist training. While doing so try to identify specialists in each facet of the game, i.e. fast bowler, spin bowler, batsman, and wicketkeeper.

2. Clubs must play their part by making sure that playing surfaces are of high quality, plus ensure that their players adhere to the Cricket Board's code of conduct.

3. During our winter season we need to try and get at least 5-10 of our best young players playing overseas in a league of high standard.

4. The time has come where we as a country must invest in overseas professionals to play in our league. Each top eight team should be afforded a professional who will assist with the club's junior programme, raise the level of interest of cricket again and coach in the schools.

5. Bermuda must have in place fitness standards and a tour code of conduct that all players must meet and agree on before being selected, no exceptions.

Motto for the week: The critic is one who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing – Oscar Wilde