The cricket season is a month away and hopefully the buzz in the air is a sign of a quality, entertaining season.With there being only six teams in the top division there is no room for error. Failing to finish in a top four Belco Cup spot will result in relegation. Sounds a bit harsh, but this is the reality as we aim to improve our local standards by having the best teams playing against the best teams.Could this be the answer to improving the standard of cricket locally?Bailey’s Bay, Cleveland, Willow Cuts, Devonshire Rec., Southampton Rangers and St. David’s form the Premier Division, which almost guarantees a tough game every week.The players will have to raise their game to assure their team doesn’t face the dreaded drop. This new structure should go a long way towards seeing who our best players really are.The good players will perform under pressure while others will buckle from the pressure.However, all of our best players are not playing in the top division which should help to make the lower league intriguing as well. The likes of Glen Blakeney, Oronde Bascome, Christian Burgess, Zico Burgess (St. George’s), Joshua Gilbert, Jekon Edness, Jordan DeSilva, Jacobi Robinson (Somerset) Tre’ Manders (Western Stars) and Lionel Cann (Warwick) are all players who could be involved in the national squad now, or in the very near future.Regardless of what format we play, it is up to the clubs and players to raise the bar.Just out of curiosity I have been peaking around at various clubs to see who has and who hasn’t been training. While most clubs have started training their numbers are really low, which is nothing new for this time of the year.Last year the season didn’t start till the end of May. However, is it believed that this season could be starting as early as the first week in May. With the football season completed the clubs will have had a good six to seven weeks to get their wicket prepared, so there is no reason why our season shouldn’t start earlier than last year.I want to challenge the top clubs on the Island to set higher standards for the lower division to follow. Start by improving your infrastructure, whether it is something as simple as having proper seating for both teams during the game, having a scoreboard that is easily visual to the public or making sure your grounds are in an immaculate condition. These things are just a start but at least it sets a precedent.From a playing perspective, players, I challenge you to get to the field on time and warm up; something that most teams take for granted and hardly do these days.Doing simple things, such as, keeping your shirt tucked in, having clean gear, wearing your cap the proper way, not swearing on the field of play and respecting the umpires, are a few things for you all as players to focus on for a start.The challenge for all national squad players will be to show why they are part of the national team by performing above the average player. Too often our national cricket team members perform below par. With it now being only six teams in the division, the onus will be on the squad players to perform for their clubs or risk getting relegated.Overall, I think the Super Six will be challenging and provide the cricket fans of Bermuda some exciting cricket this summer.Lionel Cann and Glen Blakeney will be sorely missed but their absence paves way for someone new to make a name for themselves. Who will be our most dominant cricketer this year? Will it be Janeiro Tucker, Chris Foggo, Rodney Trott, Jason Anderson, Malachi Jones or Dion Stovall?It is almost guaranteed that one of these players will be the MVP for the season. I challenge every other player in the Super Six to prove me wrong.Together, coaches, players, umpires, groundsmen, and clubs, the time has come for all of us to raise the bar and show our fans that we are serious about reviving our national sport. We are all responsible for the betterment of our national sport, so if you haven’t already started to prepare for the upcoming season let’s get cracking so that we can make this a season to remember.