Bermuda national team wicketkeeper Dean Minors has joined an elite group of cricketers.

It was confirmed yesterday that the 36-year-old CedarBridge Academy teacher had transferred from St.David?s to Eastern Counties rivals Flatts Victoria.

Over the decades, Flatts have produced and showcased some of the best wicketkeepers ever to grace local cricket, among them the likes of Dennis Wainwright, Barry DeCouto and Treadwell Gibbons.

Wainwright still holds records for the most Eastern Counties (31) and Cup Match (37) dismissals.

Minors has long been regarded as the Island?s premier wicketkeeper, having been cut from the same cloth as his St.George?s Cup Match predecessors Wainwright and Allan Douglas.

The veteran cricketer now hopes to take Flatts cricket to the next level.

?Flatts are one of those teams who have been on the fringe of going to the next level for some time, and hopefully I can help them get to the next level,? Minors told .

Minors, whose great uncle Jack Minors was a staunch Flatts fan, had been at St.David?s since 2001.

?I think I have given St.David?s five years good service and they have also been good to me,? he said.

Minors had initially pondered transferring to Southampton Rangers and Western Stars, but decided his wealth of experience would be more useful at Flatts, inaugural Champions of Champions winners in 1978.

?Flatts are one of those clubs I have always admired and I?m sure my uncle Jack will be smiling when I play my first match for them,? Minors said.

Minors was a member of Bermuda?s successful World Cup qualifying squad that competed at the ICC Trophy in Ireland last July, and is due to travel to Trinidad this Sunday with the senior national team on a 10-day training exercise.

Bermuda?s Under-15 national team are currently on a similar training venture in the homeland of senior national coach Gus Logie.

Flatts stalwart Phillip Burgess said he was ?absolutely delighted? to have Minors come onboard. ?Dean?s arrival will certainly strengthen our middle order and give our team a bit more batting depth. I personally congratulated and welcomed him into the family and he is very much looking forward to playing at his new surroundings,? he said.

Flatts earned the respect of many last season after surviving in the top flight in limited overs play. This year the team?s pre-season preparations have gradually gained momentum after getting off to a late start, Burgess said.

He also confirmed that former Western Stars opening bowler Gary Brangman would be back to coach the team along with assistant Lloyd Fray while Derek Wright would again captain the club.

Burgess said he was pleased to have the hard-hitting batting prowess of James Celestine back in the team. Celestine has transferred from Police to rejoin his old team-mates at Flatts.

?Everything is looking good so far,? said Burgess. ?And our aim is to go out there and be as competitive as we can and also have some fun in the process.?