While Open cricket gets set to reach the semi-final stages this weekend, the question still remains is it beneficial to our cricketers or should we eliminate it all together?

In Lionel Cann's article in the Bermuda Sun last week, he stated that we should scrap Open cricket. However, many say that Open cricket is an avenue to develop youngsters. The focus of this article is to discuss the pros and cons with present day players to see whether Open cricket is helping our cricketers.

Let me start by asking what is the aim of Open cricket?

In my opinion it is merely for developmental purposes as well as to assist our national squad players who play the longer version of the game in ICC four-day matches. With this in mind, what clubs need to see is how they can best utilise their players for this competition.

It would be easy for me to sit and give you my opinion but I want to share with you the opinion of some present day players from various clubs so that I do not present a biased view.

Janeiro Tucker (Southampton Rangers), current Cup Match record holder for the most runs scored in one match: "I think Open cricket should be for 23 and under down to Under-11s. Older players cannot benefit from it, you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

"That's the only way we are going to develop good players but if the wickets are going to continue being bad then we should scrap it all together. You need wickets that will make guys want to bat for long periods. Just don't have it for the sake of having it and getting nothing out of it.".

Jacobi Robinson (Somerset), present Somerset Cup Match Player and Bermuda national team player:: "I think it's good for youngsters to get them in the frame of batting long. Mind you, I do not think we have the pool of players that are interested in the longer version of the game. For me, I like it because it gives me the challenge to bat and bowl for a long time which will help me in the overs game."

Sammy Robinson (St. David's), former Bermuda national player and former St. David's County Cup captain: "I feel the Open cricket is a much needed form of the game in Bermuda. It gives the batsman time to build an innings. They have to display more patience and discipline during their innings. The bowlers get a chance to find a rhythm as they don't have the pressure of having to keep the runs down as the batsman should be more inclined to bat slower and pick their shots instead of trying to score quickly."

This can help the bowlers be more patient and disciplined. This was proven on the weekend during the game between St. David's and PHC. Both of PHC's opening bowlers bowled 20 overs on the trot. When was the last time you heard of that happening in Bermuda?

I feel the Under-19 national squad and the Under-17 league teams should be playing this format as well.

The Under-19s performance with the bat on Saturday is evidence of this. They needed to score less than two runs an over and none of the batsmen managed to stay at the crease and build an innings. The main problem is convincing the players that this form of the game is good for the players. How do we sell the longer version of the game to the clubs and players?

When you look around in world cricket, Test cricket is slowly fading out as the shorter version of cricket is taking over.

However, if you were to ask any quality cricketer what cricket offers them, they would clearly say Test cricket, which is the longer version of cricket. No! Bermuda does not play Tests, but we are in the four-day competition and the more our players play the longer version of cricket the better their game will develop.

Personally, I have to congratulate Mr. Allen Richardson and his technical committee, along with the clubs who sat down and discussed this season's lay-out. Having the Open cricket at the beginning of the season has given teams options of playing their young cricketers while also having some of their regular players find form for the 50-overs version of the game, which is about to commence shortly.

In closing, my personal feeling is that Open cricket is a tool not only used for cricket, but for life as well. It teaches a player to have patience, concentration; it builds character and teaches discipline, all facets that we as humans can use in our everyday life. Yes, it is geared towards developing young players, but with our national team still involved in four-day cricket it is a tool that we must use to our advantage.

Having heard the comments from former players, one recommendation that was put to me and I think is a great one is that we play it like they do the Olympics, whereby the league is for Under-23s, but each club is allowed to use three over-aged players if they care to.

We have already reduced Open cricket to a minimum but whether we like it or not Open cricket is beneficial to our overall development, hence the reason why it must stay.

PS It was good to hear that the ICC have introduced a two-tier system for the four-day format which means Bermuda will continue playing four-day cricket. We have been grouped with UAE, Namibia and Uganda. Special thanks goes out to Bermuda's own CEO Neil Speight who masterminded this proposal, which was supported and backed by the Bermuda Cricket Board's Executive.

Congratulations!