Having been condemned to Bermuda Cricket Board of Control's First Division, former Willow Cuts skipper Dexter Basden says that although he would prefer playing at the higher level, cricket's new league format may prove to be a blessing in disguise.

Cuts were consigned to the lower division when the BCBC decided at their recent meeting to split the league into two divisions this season, making up the Premier Division with the top eight teams of a season ago.

Basden believes his team will now be able to give their youngsters more exposure at the crease.

But the former Somerset Cup Match skipper admitted that `relegation' was a bitter pill to swallow given that his club had not one but two matches abandoned last season, neither of which were rescheduled.

"I still feel that they should have given us a year before the new format came into effect to afford clubs the opportunity to challenge for the right to play among the top teams in the league," he said. "Just to say, `hey look, we are going to start now' was a bit unfortunate for some teams."

Cuts and Police, two former powerhouses, both came up short after club affiliates voted unanimously to revert back to an elite division.

Reluctantly accepting that decision, Basden added: "We need to develop our youngsters anyhow. A lot of them could not make the first team and they were getting discouraged, so now some of the more senior players can take a back seat and try to push them to the fore."

He noted that already some of Cuts' promising young players were out training in the knowledge that they would get more opportunities in the middle.

"If we can get them out on a positive note and put them through their paces, then it will only benefit us in the long haul, especially when some of the senior players like myself bow out," added the veteran, who has been playing for the past 23 years.

Basden, however, has dispelled any thoughts of retirement in the near future.

"I am on my way out, and although I don't really look forward to playing in the lower division, at the same time I can help groom some of the younger players," he said.

"Between my brother (Richard) and I, we are two of the more senior veterans in the team, and having passed the reins over to him last season I intend on lending him my full support for at least three more seasons before I call it a day.

"Also, at times when him and I are at the crease, if one of us goes somebody has to steer the ship and other than our youngsters coming along we really don't have much, so it just forces my hand to stick around a little longer."

Meanwhile, Somerset Bridge skipper Denzil Dill echoed Basden's sentiments after his team were also left fuming over what he termed a "discrepancy" in last season's final standings.

"They should have given us this season to get things in order because there are still some discrepancies from last year's standings," he argued.

"Who's to say that the standings are absolutely correct. Anything could've happened if those matches that weren't rescheduled had been played. It isn't our fault, but we have to suffer the consequences."

Dill noted how Bridge were pencilled down as having recorded just one win which, according to him, was incorrect as he claimed they won two matches.

The full executive committee of Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association were returned to office unopposed during their AGM on Tuesday night.

Lester Harnett is the president, Stephen West vice-president, Randy Butler secretary and Steven Douglas assistant secretary/treasurer.

Committee members are Vincent Symons, Lloyd Tyrrell, Roger Dill and Clyde Simons.