What do we, as cricketers, have to do to gain respect in the cricketing world and even in our own country?

It was merely four years ago when Bermuda were heading to Ireland and no one but ourselves, families and close friends along with Cricket Board members truly believed we had a chance of qualifying for Cricket World Cup. Here we are four months away from trying to re-qualify and already the doubters are out in full force.

Bermuda created history by becoming the smallest country ever to play in the World Cup. We have practically 200 cricketers in the whole of Bermuda from which we have a pool of about 25 to 30 players who are capable of playing at a higher level.

Amazingly, some of these other countries have maybe five times the amount, if not 10 times the amount, of cricketers to choose from yet we still do not get any credit.

Qualifying for the last World Cup was nothing but a fluke in some people's eyes. Here in Bermuda some people still can't believe that we actually did it, but we did.

Just this week when the national team arrived home from the America's Cup, Arnold Manders and Irvine Romaine were both interviewed and it really annoyed me. Why? Simply because the reporter tried to insinuate that if we can't win a small tournament like the Americas how can we expect to qualify for Cricket World Cup?

Does the reporter know the quality of the USA team and does he know that this Bermuda team is still minus at least five quality players, three of whom played in the previous Cricket World Cup?

Personally, I know my former team-mates would scold me for this, but I would say as a whole this current team that is about to be selected will be stronger than the team that went to the last Cricket World Cup.

The younger players will have matured (four years older), the senior players now know what it takes to get there. Plus the overall balance of the team is better. This time around it will be more difficult for the coach to pick a starting eleven, yet alone the final fourteen.

The players must concentrate on each other and not dwell on what's written about them or said publicly about them.

There are people who will make comments to try and discredit them.

Take a look at Cricketeurope.com, for example. They currently have Bermuda ranked number 16. There is no way Bermuda should not be ranked in the top 10 after going to the World Cup, but they have teams such as Italy, Argentina, Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, and Uganda ahead of us. These teams have never beaten Bermuda – but I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion regardless of what the facts show.

As a cricketing nation I urge and encourage the players to use this as fuel to motivate themselves as individuals and as a team.

However, I will encourage Bermudians to be more positive and say more positive things to and about the team because positive vibes can only bring about positive results. If you keep telling a child that he is not good he will lose confidence, but if you tell that child he can achieve anything, more than likely that child will be successful.

The one most important point is that the boys do not forget what got them to the last Cricket World Cup. The senior players in the team must lead by example and demand more effort and dedication from the younger ones, but they too have to be totally committed.

I remember going to the Olympic Club gym for fitness and having no less than 20 players in every spinning class with players challenging each other on their fitness levels. This enhanced the team's overall fitness level and determination. From that we built team unity which in the end resulted in us working for each other just like a family.

Lastly, I say to all Bermuda players – be encouraged. The next four months will be the most challenging and demanding in your whole cricketing careers, but continue to work hard and grow together as one.

If there is one last piece of advice I can give you, it is pray. God is good. Just ask the Bermuda team of 2005.