Fifty-over Premier Division champions Young Men's Social have been dealt a minor blow when seamer Kevin Hurdle was suspended for three games by the Disciplinary Committee of the Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB).

The committee levied a penalty of a one-year ban from international and domestic cricket to the pace bowler that was appealed and the domestic ban reduced to a three-game suspension.

The one-year international ban was confirmed.

Hurdle was found guilty of using obscene, offensive and insulting language to a team official.

This decision comes at an acceptable time for the side that are looking to make it three league titles in a row, along with another Central Counties championship.

With the season not starting for a few weeks more, Social Club have enough time to consolidate the loss with the league campaigns being for the enduring not the swift.

Additions to the squad are Clay Darrell who left Cleveland, Daniel Morgan from Warwick, and David Lovell Jr. from Bailey's Bay.

Boasting a mountain of match winners in their ranks that includes coach Charlie Marshall, who can still deliver the goods, Nakia Smith, Jahmiko Marshall and Ricky Hoyte just to name a few

The key to their title defence however will undoubtedly be late order batsman and the league's Most Valuable Player last season, Jeffrey Tyrell.

Tyrell recorded an astounding seven not-outs in his nine innings last year, one of which was included in one of the highest partnerships in the season – a 123-run stand with coach Marshall.

His total of 236 runs in the season were not the most by a player by quite a long shot but his ability to produce runs when his team need them proved to be the deciding factor in his side retaining their 50-over league title.

He also bowled the second most overs in the league (98), and claimed the fourth most number of wickets (25).

"I guess you could say it turned out to be a bit of a strategy with me batting way down the order as we have a lot of batsmen in our team," Tyrell said after claiming his MVP award.

"So when I got to the crease at times the bowlers were tired or not bowling 100 percent, so I found it easier to do what I needed to do.

"Lower down the order I was able to have guys hang in there with me and get the runs to win games."

The one blip on their radar was being relegated to the First Divsion in the Open Cricket league, where they managed one win in four matches, leaving them second from the bottom.

Yet, with the talent they possess, Social should be back with the big boys very soon and knocking on the door for a maiden Open Cricket league title.

Not losing any notable players will also be key to their two title defences, but it remains to be seen if they can hold off the chasing pack and claim a third successive title.