MALCOLM Speed had plenty of nice things to say about Bermuda cricket on his first visit to the Island a couple of weeks ago.

But despite all the soothing rhetoric about how well Bermuda had done to reach the World Cup, the International Cricket Council's chief executive made it absolutely clear that our place among the world's elite would soon disappear without continued investment, innovation and the unwavering commitment of both the game's administrators and players.

He pointed out also, that in a small country such as ours, where the pool of players from which to make up a national squad is comparatively limited, it is imperative that no talented player is allowed to slip through the cracks or prevented from making the most of his potential.

"In bigger countries it's alright if one or two talented players drift away because there are so many to choose from," he said.

"In a country like Bermuda that simply cannot happen and the emphasis has got to be on making sure every single one of your players is being nurtured to be the best they can be."

While it is important to celebrate Bermuda's recent Americas Championship triumph, the nine-wicket defeat in the four-day Intercontinental Cup game just prior to that tournament should have given everybody pause for thought.

To lose a game so convincingly after scoring over 300 runs in both innings is certainly bizarre, with the finger of blame pointing straight at Bermuda's impotent bowling attack. Kevin Hurdle, Ryan Steede, Saleem Mukuddem, Dwayne Leverock and Delyone Borden all tried and failed to contain the Canadians, three of whom scored centuries.

And while Bermuda spent almost a day an a half chasing leather, arguably Bermuda's most talented and incisive bowler was watching the carnage from the boundary edge.

George O'Brien was omitted from the game, according to coach Gus Logie, not because he was injured or sick, but because he was not deemed fit enough to make it through four consecutive days of cricket.

"As far as we were concerned George was not at full fitness," Logie explained.

"Even during our training sessions prior to Intercontinental Cup he complained about a few sore muscles here and there and we felt it would be better to rest him for the four-day game. Chances were that George might not have been all that ready for four straight days of cricket ? especially after playing Cup Match which did take its toll on his general fitness."

Reading Logie's explanation without knowing O'Brien, one might be inclined to think he was talking about somebody in the twilight of a long, back-breaking career who needed to be wrapped in cotton wool.

We all know, of course, that he was not talking about a battle-weary veteran, but rather an up-and-coming fast bowler in his early 20s who spent three months this winter at a cricket academy in Australia.

The St. David's seamer made his international debut against Canada in Trinidad this April ? which was Bermuda's first ever official ODI.

Though there was some concern beforehand that his inexperience would be ruthlessly exploited by the explosive John Davison at the top of the order, O'Brien responded magnificently, bowling with pace and venom against both Canada and Zimbabwe and looking the one bowler on show capable of troubling quality batsmen.

At last, it seemed, Logie had found the spearhead he was looking for ? and with O'Brien bowling quick and taking wickets, the attack certainly had a more menacing look to it.

Since then, however, O'Brien's record has been frustratingly patchy.

True, he was Bermuda's leading wicket-taker in the Americas Championship, but on tour in the UK this past May, where generally the damp, early-season wickets were tailor made for seamers ? he bowled terribly, his one meaningful contribution coming with the bat during an quickfire 30-odd as a makeshift opener against an unsuspecting Guernsey.

The sight of a weary looking O'Brien sitting outside the pavilion after one of those games in the Channel Islands, shirt-off, belly out and with cigarette in his mouth, made Guernsey coach and former England offspinner Jack Birkenshaw shake his head.

"Kid's got talent ? I wonder whether he's got the drive?" he said.

There then followed some disciplinary problems in Antigua as Bermuda prepared for the Stanford 20-20, with O'Brien apparently not turning up for a training session and being hauled over the coals by the Bermuda Cricket Board as a result and reminded of the high standards expected of all national team players.

Nobody would dare question O'Brien's potential.

But it is simply inexcusable that a young man who has had thousands of dollars of public money invested in his development is not in good enough shape to make it through a four-day match when bowlers several years his senior are out there slogging their guts out for the national cause.

In terms of pure statistics, he has done well so far in his short international career.

But there is no telling how much more he could achieve if he was prepared to knuckle down and get himself into the best physical condition possible. As was revealed by the speed gun in Antigua, O'Brien is already capable of bowling at around 80 miles and hour and there is no question a boy of his strength and build could eventually be bowling in the mid to high 80s.

Talent is an awful thing to waste. But does George really appreciate just how good he could be?