The former chairman of a cricket restructuring committee has voiced agreement with past cricketers Clarence Parfitt and St. Clair (Brinky) Tucker that the sport is in dire need of a comprehensive youth programme.

However, unlike the aforementioned pair, radio commentator/politician/businessman Jim Woolridge refuses to believe the sport is on a downward spiral despite the Island enduring arguably its worst showing at the ICC Trophy tournament, failing to emerge from the opening round.

Woolridge, affectionately known as `The Voice of Summer', said that he would need to know detailed facts of what took place in Malaysia before he could pass fair judgment on the team's performances and ultimate, early expulsion.

"These two good gentlemen expressed their own opinion and I think they're entitled to it, but I like to be constructive if I'm going to make any comment and without having had the benefit of an in-depth report from the people who were there -- the conditions and those type of things -- it would be difficult for me to comment,'' said Woolridge, a onetime wicketkeeper for Flatts Victoria.

"I would, though, concur with what they both said in that we need to develop a youth programme on the lines of what we had before. That's the type of programme that produced people like Albert Steede, Charlie Marshall and others such as the Basden boys from Somerset. They all came through the Shell Youth programme and I think it was a pity that that programme was not continued.'' As chairman of the restructuring committee, one which included national coach Allan Douglas and ICC team member Arnold Manders along with Rudolph Lawrence, Maurice Hankey, Neil Speight, Gregory Foggo, Wendell Smith and Luther Wilkin, Woolridge handed over various recommendations to Bermuda Cricket Board of Control head Ed Bailey.

One of these was to have youth schemes set up in all of the Island's schools which would -- among other things -- ensure a steady stream of new talent to replace senior members leaving the game.

But Woolridge could not answer whether such proposals had been implemented.

"I chaired the committee, presented my report to the president of the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control and that's where my responsibility ended. I don't know what has taken place, but we need to put it in all of the schools and bring the kids along,'' said Woolridge, adding that it was more than just the sport itself such programmes would address.

"This game of cricket is probably one of the most fundamental, character building sports there is and the idea of starting an early programme, I think, does so much for the kids, particularly at a time when we need to save some of our kids from falling into an idle type situation.

"This can do a lot to help them get along the road to good citizenship and that's what I had in mind when we made recommendations to have a programme implemented in the schools across the board.'' And while conceding that today's batch of youngsters had various societal problems to contend with, Woolridge refused to consider them as an excuse.

The use of role models, he deemed crucial to raising interest among the youth, noting it was something which had inspired him and a great many others to first take up and continue in the game.

"If we can have role models and people like that who can relate to kids I don't see why it should be any different. Yes, the kids have more attractions -- motor bikes and all the other things -- but I still think there's a lot of underlying and hidden talent around here that can be developed and this is what we're talking about,'' added Woolridge.

"Everybody that picks up a bat will not become a great batsman, but everyone that picks up a bat will learn the fundamentals of the game, which are so important in helping to build good citizens. Because, in my humble opinion, cricket is the greatest character building sport there is and if you can live by the fundamentals of that game I think you're ready for the game called life.'' Jim Woolridge