Competing in the World Cup can open many new doors and create wonderful opportunities for Bermuda cricket, according to former West Indies fast bowler turned cricket commentator Ian Bishop.

Yet in order for Bermuda to take full advantage of the opportunity and move forward there must be collaboration between administrators, the players, Government and the corporate sector, Bishop said.

“I think there are many challenges in Bermuda and it must be taken into consideration that this is their first time appearing in the World Cup,” said Bishop, who claimed 161 Test wickets for the West Indies between 1988 and 1998.

“Bermuda’s history of cricket, which is probably long and deep, has been eroded in recent times and they are just trying to recreate their own identity.

“But what appearing in the World Cup will hopefully do is help recreate and stimulate interest. Bermuda has guys like Sluggo (Dwayne Leverock) who is a crowd favourite and people would’ve seen that on TV. And hopefully the youths (in Bermuda) would’ve seen that and will now see cricket as a viable career.

“This can help rekindle the interest in Bermuda and over a period of time, if the administration (Bermuda Cricket Board) gets things going and receives help from the Government and corporate Bermuda, then I think this World Cup would’ve done some good for Bermuda.”

So far Bermuda’s World Cup debut has been expectedly challenging with lopsided losses to Sri Lanka and India — two former World Cup champions. But Bishop believes the experience itself will be of more benefit to Bermuda’s cricketers than results.

“What Bermuda has to go through now in terms of development is a long term process. You don’t turn up and win at the next World Cup or maybe even the one after that,” the Trinidadian said.

He also believes the contract of Bermuda coach Gus Logie should be extended to allow for continuity.

“I’m not saying that Gus should be there for 25 years, what I’m saying is that he should be held because I know him pretty well and also know his administrative skills and his skills as a cricket coach, and think he is the ideal candidate having started something,” Bishop said.

“With the help of the cricket administration I think he should be the one to take it forward for a bit longer.”

Bishop, who is commentating all World Cup Group B matches at the Queen’s Park Oval, made generally good remarks about Bermuda’s first World Cup team, but couldn’t resist singling out Malachi Jones for special mention. “Malachi Jones had the commentary box buzzing the other day. Beyond his bowling figures, we were all impressed with his run-up and pace that he gets as a teenager. I feel that he is a youngster with much potential among some of the other guys,” he said.

“The emotion that he showed after getting a wicket the other day (against India) really gave a sense of purity of what it meant to him. And to me that best sums up his confidence and interest in the game where he broke into tears after getting a wicket.”

And in terms of Bermuda’s heavy defeats, Bishop said: “What I have noticed first of all is that Bermuda seem to have taken things in good stride. They just have to realise that they are competing against seasoned cricketers and they themselves are not professional cricketers.

“They are amateurs and what they need to do is look at this World Cup and see what they can learn from it technically and talk to some of the other players and see what they have to offer in terms of tips.

“That is how they have to look at it and to be honest what I would like to see beyond this World Cup is Bermuda receiving more exposure against the more established teams way before the World Cup. This would enable them to develop out of the real spotlight and also avoid some of the pressures of such a high quality tournament such as the World Cup.

“I don’t want to see Bermuda playing against higher quality teams only at the World Cup. This must happen series after series so they are learning all the time and then when the next World Cup comes around they will be in a better quality state.”

In spite of Bermuda’s shortcomings, Bishop insists they do belong on the world stage. And even though cricket is not played professionally in Bermuda, the former fast bowler still believes the Island can achieve much playing at a higher level.

“When you have to play a sport and then go to work and come back home, it’s always going to be difficult because the other guys are playing cricket for eight hours a day while you are either at work or going to school,” Bishop said.

“I would like to see Bermuda slotted in against maybe a West Indies, Sri Lanka or Bangladesh occasionally so they are getting a little taste of things along the line in their build-up.

“I think this is very important because teams like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have shown that the more they play, the better you become.”

Bishop: Improvement is long-term process