If $11 million wasn?t enough, Bermuda are now guaranteed another $280,000 towards improving cricketing infrastructure ? just for playing in a 20/20 competition in the Caribbean next July.

And West Indies spin legend Lance Gibbs, here to oversee how the money will be spent, is absolutely certain of where he thinks the investment should go.

?This money has got to go into the wickets,? said Gibbs, who toured every single one of Bermuda?s cricket venues yesterday morning with national coach Gus Logie, for whom he has been Windies team manager on three occasions, and Bermuda Cricket Board chief executive Neil Speight.

?I have looked at all the grounds and the major concern has to be the pitches,? said Gibbs. ?Youngsters growing up on pitches with an uncertain bounce and the ball going in odd directions are never going to be able to develop the cricketing mind to make it.

?Government are going to have to do something about the rule about bringing in soil because until the wickets themselves are right, it is going to be hard to move forward.?

His hard-hitting comments echo those made on previous visits by ICC High Performance Development Manager Richard Done earlier this year, although circumventing tough legislation surrounding the importation of soil is going to be difficult to achieve.

The more likely solution ? with money effectively no real object now ? is bringing in artificial wickets, such as that due to be brought in next year for the 20-20 Cricket Classic by Notts Sports, a UK pitch specialist.

One of their senior staff, Richard Tigwell, was in Bermuda during last week?s World Rugby Classic and took a tour of the Island, identifying the different requirements for each of the pitches ? a tour that would indicate the BCB are looking at bringing in more than one such pitch anyway.

Gibbs suggested artificial surfaces would be an important interim measure for Bermuda as they look to prepare for next July?s tournament, paid for by the $28 million of Texan billionaire?s Allen Stanford?s money.

?This money ? all of which has to be fully accounted for ? is for infrastructure and coaching to help sides prepare for next year?s competition,? continued Gibbs, the first spinner to reach 300 Test wickets and regarded as one of the greatest players to have graced a cricket field.

?But it isn?t just about the tournament, it is about improving the standard of cricket across the region for now and for the future. It is about leaving a cricketing legacy and putting in a long-term plan to raise the level of cricket that is being played.

?West Indies cricket is down in the dumps at the moment and Mr. Stanford?s generosity by putting in $250,000 to each of 19 participants is a very welcome contribution.

?It is just what the region needs at the moment.?

Although no specific items have been applied for yet by the BCB, they are thought to be putting together a list similar to the requirements of other countries including bowling machines, artificial pitches, balls, stumps, nets, rollers, covers as well as possible funding for additional coaching if needed. There could also be cash for full-time groundstaff.

?I have looked at the grounds here and I am impressed,? continued Gibbs, speaking with a natural authority and presence commensurate with his standing in the game.

?I think with the money that is available they can be brought up to the right sort of standards. It is all about giving players the opportunity to play and practice with the best facilities and enabling them to become the best players they can.?

Speight, as one would expect, was excited about Gibbs? visit and what the money could be used for.

?This is yet another wonderful fillip for Bermuda cricket,? said Speight, who will host Gibbs again early in the new year to review the investment possibilities.

?Any investment on this scale is welcome and along with the $11 million allocated to us by Government we hope to be able to make significant improvements in cricketing infrastructure and standards in accordance with our four-year plan.

?We are looking forward to the tournament itself but obviously the investment that comes with it can help greatly with what we are trying to achieve.?