Dear Sir,

Exciting times lay ahead for Bermuda's senior national cricket team. Even though we are currently in the midst of rebuilding, there are some very talented youngsters looking to secure their positions in the squad.

Players such as Stephen Outerbridge, George O'Brien and Jekon Edness are beginning to demonstrate that they are capable of filling the void left by the retirement of Clay Smith, Saleem Mukadeem and Dean Minors while youngsters such as Rodney Trott and Stefan Kelly are already turning in noteworthy performances.

I believe that what we are at last beginning to realise are the benefits of having a good national youth programme, most of the players mentioned have come through the under-15 and under-19 national programs.

The beauty of this is that these programmes provide the national squad with a steady supply of talented players.

At present Bermuda's openers are Chris Foggo and Oronde Bascome, yet hard on their heels challenging for an opening spot is Warwick's Chris Douglas who this weekend made his second century of the season with a well struck 130.

Chris has a lot to offer as he is also a more than useful spin bowler. All three players came through the national youth program.

The competition for places will become even keener when you consider that even younger players such as Terryn Fray, Jordan DeSilva, Duente Darrell and Machai Campbell are on the horizon.

In fact the days are long gone when a few talented players could hold the country to ransom by refusing to play, the emphasis now is on development and the youth national programs are producing a large number of talented cricketers who have had exposure to the international game putting to an end once and for all our reliance on a few 'big' names.

This must be seen as a positive step for Bermuda cricket.

One of the big questions in cricket circles these days is whether the under-19 team led by Rodney Trott that played in the under-19 world cup is a better team than the powerful squad led by his Bailey's Bay team mate Stephen Outerbridge a few years earlier.

It would be great if the Board could arrange a fixture between the two sides in order to determine once and for all who is the best.

Recman

Dear Sir,

The appointment of Jacobi Robinson has sealed everything I said or wrote last year, meaning they wanted one of their own within the club to be skipper for Cup Match. Yet they, the committee, never looked at one of their own for the job.

For them to go out and ask someone to play for us so they can become the captain of the Cup Match team was out of order.

The committee made themselves a laughing stock to all that followed the happenings last year leading up to Cup Match, and their choice of captain.

Jacobi should have been skipper from the inception once they felt Janeiro (Tucker) would be stripped because he lost two Cup Matches. And then begging him to play once he stated he wouldn't play any longer in the Classic. This was the only thing I disagree with from Tucker.

He has a lot to offer to the game as well as to young cricketers as a whole.

To my new captain, all the best and I wish you all the success you deserve. Get the team behind you and do what you have to do, meaning lead them to victory.

Thank you Sir,

George Bremar