No aspiring national team cricketer will be turned away as Bermuda head into the post-World Cup era — but coach Gus Logie insisted yesterday he would only work with those prepared to make major sacrifices for the sake of the cause.

After a few weeks of rest and reflection, the Trinidadian is set to host an open assessment day at the National Sports Centre on Saturday, when all coaches and cricketers interested in taking part in national team programmes at all levels will be welcome to participate in skill sessions, nets, video analysis work and tactical discussions.

The national coach views Saturday as the starting point for Bermuda’s campaign to re-qualify for the World Cup at the ICC Trophy in 2009 and said he would be willing to work with anybody if it meant the team would benefit.

Logie’s open-house, slates-wiped-clean approach has opened the door once again for the likes of fast bowler George O’Brien jr, who was expelled from the team last year after repeatedly falling short of the standards asked of him.

Other promising young cricketers such as Dion Stovell and Jacobi Robinson, who have up to now shown a limited interest in representing their country, will also be welcomed into the fold should they wish, Logie said.

“I’ve had a conversation with George in the course of the past few days and he has made it clear that he wants to get back involved in the national team programme,” Logie said.

“From a coach’s perspective, you want to be working with players of George’s ability so his willingness to play is heartening, although I’ve made it clear to him once again, as I will do to all the players, that there are standards set by the Board that must be met and anybody who doesn’t meet them will not stay part of the programme for long.

“Obviously I have done a lot of thinking about the World Cup — what went right, what went wrong and what could have been. As I’ve said before, not enough of our senior players — particularly the batsmen — really lived up to what was expected of them, though I think the quality of the bowling had a lot to do with that.

“The players are also well aware that some aspects of their preparation could have been better — there could have been more focus at times, there’s no question about that.

“Saying that, though, there one or two memorable moments and I still think that some of the catches we took have not yet been bettered in the tournament so far.

“Right now though it’s a matter of preparing for the future and as I’ve indicated previously, getting as many youngsters involved with the national team as possible and blending them in with the more experienced players to create an effective unit.

“The Under-19s will be attempting to qualify for their own World Cup this year and we’ll be giving them as much help as we can to achieve that, but the primary focus from my perspective will be making sure we give ourselves the best possible chance to re-qualify.

“”We’ve had a few people say they are retiring. There is nothing I can do about that, it is entirely up to the individual.”

Even before the World Cup got underway, there were some who felt that the coach might not be in Bermuda much longer if the team fell significantly short of his expectations.

But while it is understood he was far from pleased with the quality of the performances not just in the World Cup but in the run-up to it, Logie said yesterday he was enthusiastic about the future.

“You always consider your position in anything you do and I was no different,” he said.

“Before we left I heard people say that there would be no cricketers left to choose from after the World Cup because everybody was planning to retire.

“And if that had been the case then yes, I think the situation would have been very difficult for me to carry on. But enough young players I have spoken to have expressed a desire to represent Bermuda. As a coach that is what you want and need to hear.

“That gives me the encouragement to keep going, and so I think you’ll be seeing me around for a while yet.”

As it stands, the national squad are not scheduled to be in action again until around mid-August, when there are tours to Ireland and Holland tentatively planned.

Logie admitted he would like to get the team playing again much sooner than that and has asked the Board to look into the possibility of arranging further games in England earlier in the summer.

The coach is also waiting for Government to act on their promise to have the National Sports Centre square up and running by the summer so that Bermuda are capable of hosting international games on local soil.

And of repeated argument that Bermuda have to start playing more regularly against higher quality opposition if they ever hope to be competitive at future World Cups, Logie said: “Yes I agree, in an ideal world you would want to consistently play against teams that are better than you because we all know that this is the quickest way to improve.

“The problem is that these teams also want to play people who are better than them and are going to be reluctant to make room in what is already a very busy calendar for games against the likes of us.

“Our geography and the high costs also make Bermuda a difficult place to come and tour, so we have one or two things working against us.

“But what you’ve also got to remember is that before the World Cup we were playing Trinidadian club sides with international players in them and losing — so perhaps what we need to do is concentrate on the quality of of our own performance rather than getting too concerned with the opposition.

“But yes, if we have the opportunity to play against better sides then I think we should take it.”