Enough has been said and written about the beleaguered national cricket team over the past couple of weeks in media both here and overseas – not too much of it complimentary.

They've had their four years of fame and plenty are of the opinion that it's time for Bermuda Cricket Board to quietly fade into the background, reassess and go about the business of rebuilding their programme.

Interestingly, amidst the cricketers' misery, other sports have shown that with a lot less cash at their disposal and a lot more commitment, Bermuda's name still can be synonymous with success on the international stage.

Those reading these pages during that period might have noticed that certain sports which, in the past, haven't always grabbed the headlines have slipped under the spotlight.

Of these, the women's national volleyball team might have been the most surprising. There are many who wouldn't have known such a team existed.

Yet they went to the Caribbean last week, competed in the first round of the World Cup qualifers and crushed every one of their opponents – Dominica, St. Kitt's and Nevis, Anguilla and British Virgin Islands.

It was enough to propel the girls into the second round in Trinidad next month where they won't be taken lightly, given the form they showed last week.

Not so surprising was the success of the national swimming team who returned from Aruba dripping with medals – 12 in all, including seven gold – not to mention a bunch of new national records, one of which had stood for almost 20 years.

In that same period Bermuda's swimmers have consistently qualified for Olympic, Pan-Am and Commonwealth Games as well as the Worlds. They're now ranked among the best in the Caribbean region as shown by the splash they made at the Carifta meet.

Such performances haven't always been afforded the recognition they deserve – although Kiera Aitken and Roy Allen Burch were both selected as this year's Female and Male Athletes of the Year (until the Sports Minister poked his nose in and deemed Burch wasn't a worthy recipient!)

Preceding the swim team were the track and field athletes who returned from their Carifta meet also with heads held high – five medals in all and again with several PBs.

A year ago they garnered just one medal.

Under new Bermuda Track and Field Association's dynamic president Donna Watson, they too have excelled with the sport finally appearing to have risen out of the doom and gloom inflicted by past administrators.

Their next step, hopefully, will be to be put in place a team of coaches who can bring out the best in this abundance of rising talent.

Adding to April's success stories has been golfer Michael Sims who, after an up and down pro career, is reaping the rewards of work put in during the winter months.

Collecting cheques after making the cut in all three appearances on the Nationwide Tour this year, he's now assured a regular spot on the same circuit for the rest of the season with a realistic chance of realising his dream of playing on the extremely lucrative US PGA Tour.

Finally, a group of 16-year-olds – all of them graduates of the junior sailing programme – have been making waves at the annual International Race Week. Skipper Lance Fraser and his crew weren't only holding their own in the J24 class but challenging for honours.

It's stories such as this and those mentioned above which should perhaps be making the headlines more often than they do.

And that will be the goal of this newspaper in coming months.

With Bermuda Hogges kicking off their season in Maryland tonight, there's sufficient on the sports calendar in 2009 to suggest that those involved in cricket might have to take a back seat.

A wider coverage of all sports has been demanded and earned by those who deserve it. We'll attempt to accomodate them.

– ADRIAN ROBSON