By Lawrence TrottBermuda cricket is entering a new era with Stephen Outerbridge named as the new national team captain and a new coach to be appointed in the coming months after David Moore’s contract expires.And now is a good time, veteran coach Wendell Smith believes, for players to show a new commitment to the national programme as the Bermuda squad begin preparing for the upcoming ICC World League’s Division Three Tournament next April.“No longer do our players have the excuse that they do not like playing under a captain who does not know them,” said Smith who previously worked as assistant national coach under Gus Logie. “No longer will some of the players be able to use the excuse that they did not like coach Moore’s extremely strict manner.“When Cup Match time rolls around, all of our top players make themselves available, and rightfully so. But the question so many of us in the cricketing fraternity wish to know is why not the same passion about representing your country?”More than 40 players have been chosen to prepare for next year’s tournament. And while player response to training had been disappointing, the numbers have increased in the last couple of sessions.Allowing for commitment and player availability, Smith was asked to select a team he thought would represent Bermuda well in the tournament.He came up with what he felt “collectively would make up a good unit, with good balance, spinners, pacers, lots of all-rounders and youth and experience. It would, he believes, be a good first team under new captain Outerbridge.Smith would opt to return Delyone Borden to the opening spot, a position he and St. David’s team-mate OJ Pitcher occupied during the ICC Trophy in 2005 in Ireland when Bermuda qualified for the World Cup.“Delyone Borden is a very good opening batsman, plus it’s a left and right combination,” said Smith, referring to his right-handed partner Dion Stovell, Smith’s other choice as opener. He would bat Pitcher at number three with captain Outerbridge coming in at number four in a middle order that would also contain veterans Lionel Cann and Janeiro Tucker and all-rounders Kamau Leverock and Rodney Trott coming in at seven and eight, ahead of wicketkeeper Jekon Edness.“OJ is compact, like Noel Gibbons, and I would put Lionel in early at five so he can get a lot of overs,” said Smith who would choose between bowlers Kyle Hodsoll and George O’Brien depending on the conditions.“If it is an overcast day I would go with Kyle Hodsoll, but if it is a green top and a sunny day I would go with George O’Brien, but his fitness would be the key,” said Smith who threw another name into the mix.“I would have picked Kevin Hurdle if he wasn’t suspended,” Smith conceded. “I’m a very big Kevin Hurdle fan, I think he’s a class player. When he bowled against MCC at Somerset he was unplayable.”Smith’s team (in batting order)1 Dion Stovell2 Delyone Borden3 OJ Pitcher4 Stephen Outerbridge (capt)5 Lionel Cann6 Janeiro Tucker7 Kamau Leverock8 Rodney Trott9 Jekon Edness (wk)10 Malachi Jones11 Kyle Hodsoll or George O’BrienReserves: Gregory Maybury, Allan Douglas Jr.