LAST week's catastrophic electrical fire at Belco rather took the gloss off Bermuda's historic triumph at the ICC Trophy in Ireland. While the island's cricketing heroes should have been parading through the streets of Hamilton last Thursday (instead of yesterday), bathing deservedly in the adoration of an ecstatic community, the 60-foot flames raging from one of the power plant's main switching rooms quickly put paid to any such idol worship.

But with the lights largely back-on and the national crisis drawing to a close, it is time once again to reflect in greater depth on arguably Bermuda's greatest-ever sporting triumph.

Now is perhaps the time to lay my cards on the table and admit I did not give the team a hope-in hell's chance of reaching the West Indies in 2007. While no one can deny the nine-months of training prior to the tournament was well-organised, well-attended and largely effective in what it set out to achieve, the overriding suspicion was that a chronic lack of match practice against quality opposition would cost Bermuda dear. Such fears were only bolstered by performances on their pre-tournament tour in England, where Bermuda crashed to defeat against the likes of club-side Lloyd's of London and lowly Oman and in general looked alarmingly under-cooked. An expected but nonetheless comprehensive 97-run thrashing at the hands of hosts and tournament favourites Ireland in the first group game hardly engendered much confidence either, and the talk in the newsroom and on the streets was of Bermuda being dumped humiliatingly out of the competition without a win.

It was obvious that the team's next game against UAE was absolutely crucial. Batting first after losing the toss, the writing seemed to be on the wall at 105 for six, with the vast majority of the island's top batsman back in the hutch. However, a quick-fire 41 from wicketkeeper Dean Minors and a quite remarkable 17-ball assault from Lionel Cann pushed Bermuda's score above 200 and gave them something to bowl at.

But arguably the turning-point of the whole campaign came in the field, with UAE cruising at 67 for one. Having bowled poorly by his own high-standards against Ireland, Bermuda's best bowler by a country mile, Dwayne Leverock, delivered when it mattered most ? ripping the heart out of the UAE top-order with three wickets in quick succession to leave them reeling at 67 for four.

With panic setting-in among the opposition batsman, Bermuda completed a deserved 30-run victory and generated the necessary momentum which pushed them triumphantly through the next two matches and on to glory.

It is testament to the squad's cohesiveness and strength of character that they refused to surrender when the going got tough. On countless occasions in the past, Bermudian teams have collapsed when even the slightest pressure was applied ? a product mainly of severe inexperience. This new-found stubbornness is a clear indication of just what can be achieved with an unbreakable team spirit and shrewd leadership and it is a trait that all local cricket-lovers will be praying the team can reciprocate for many years to come.

While the team ethos was imperative, a number of individuals stood up to be counted when they were needed most.

Janeiro Tucker took over the captaincy when Clay Smith tweaked his hamstring and by all accounts was a revelation. His typically fearsome 132 in the all-important clash with the United States set up a resounding victory while his under-rated medium pacers worked adequately at first-change. Saleem Mukuddem, while struggling at three with the bat, proved the team's most effective seamer, picking up nine wickets in the tournament and proving a handful with the new ball. Along with the South African, Leverock also picked up nine wickets and it was to him that the team often looked to provide the control in the middle phase of the innings. His excellent catching at slip and fielding in general was the result of countless hours in the gym losing the required weight ? inspiring dedication which must be warmly applauded.

Irving Romaine, though unable to push on to three-figures in any of the six games, was a model of consistency with the bat, averaging 35, while the fireworks of Cann at nine in the order saved Bermuda's blushes on several occasions. Wicketkeeper Dean Minors, meanwhile, had an outstanding tournament, gobbling up every chance behind the stumps and scoring important runs, often in tandem with the rampant Cann. Minors has been comfortably Bermuda's best wicketkeeper for many years ? despite an unfortunately lengthy period in the international wilderness ? and Bermuda would be a far-inferior side without him. Let us all hope that he stays with the cause over the next two years.

Overall, the strategy of batting very deep and including a large number of allrounders in the starting 11 worked well, and the selection panel must be given credit for this savvy line of thinking.

But at the risk of being a party-pooper, it is surely also important to maintain a sense of perspective in all this and do appropriate justice to the shortcomings which persist.

Admittedly in the face of alien, seamer-friendly conditions against the new ball, Bermuda's top-order failed to fire at any stage. While one might be able to understand coach Gus Logie's keenness to pack the middle order for an assault against the older ball, opening the innings with the squad's two youngsters ? OJ Pitcher and Delyone Borden ? was a high-risk strategy which utterly failed. While the talented duo have made all the right noises since returning home about learning from the experience etc, the truth is that both had an absolutely wretched time with the bat. Borden's highest score in the tournament was 29 while Pitcher, his tendency to play across his front pad ruthlessly exposed by the moving ball, averaged only 10. Mukuddem at three faired little better, and it is clear Bermuda have to uncover a more effective top-order if they wish to be competitive on a consistent basis at an international level. Relying time after time on a clutch of allrounders batting down the order to score the bulk of the runs is not a recipe for long-term success.

The need to develop more significant partnerships is also great. Bermuda's best effort came for the sixth-wicket ? a 118-run stand between Minors and Tucker against the USA, when Bermuda amassed over 300 for the one and only time. But a partnership of 118 placed only nineteenth in the overall tournament statistics, with the vast majority of the 18 superior efforts coming from the top-orders of a host of other teams. Furthermore, a record of one hundred and two fifties in the tournament from Bermudian batsman is not really good enough, and there can be little doubt the indefatigable Logie will be pressing the importance of turning 20s and 30s into sizeable hundreds.

And finally, as has been endlessly pointed out, the lack of a genuine strike bowler in the side continues to hamper their efforts and in general the attack still has a somewhat blunt feel to it. To be fair, there are candidates out there capable of fulfilling the role. Stefan Kelly is a gem in the making while Jacobi Robinson could also be the real deal if he could match his natural talent with a temperament, maturity and hard work. According to many at his adopted-club Western Stars, this has not yet happened ? although there can be little argument that a World Cup seam quartet of Kelly, Robinson, Kevin Hurdle and perhaps Mukuddem has a respectable ring to it.

With all this said, it is obvious Bermuda is heading slowly but surely in the right direction ? particularly when compared to the island's last two showings at the ICC Trophy in Malaysia and Canada respectively, which can really only be described as diabolical. True, from a historical standpoint, Bermuda would have qualified on four separate occasions since the first competition in 1979 if the five World Cup berths had been available and yes, Colin Blades' Bermuda of 1982 probably remains the strongest local side ever assembled. But such debates, while mildly diverting, ultimately achieve nothing and it is incumbent on all who play and follow the game to look forwards and not back.

Even the most ardent cynic could not have avoided a lump in the throat when witnessing the euphoric scenes at the airport when the squad returned home. The atmosphere was quite simply electric and even the somewhat jaded-looking players appeared surprised at the outpouring of joy and emotion from the 500 or so flag-waving, conch-blowing supporters who came to pay tribute to them.

But it is now up to the powers that be to maintain this unprecedented level of energy and enthusiasm for our national summer sport. Bermudian cricket has been languishing in the doldrums for well over a decade and World Cup qualification could and should be the spark we've all been waiting for.

Access to sponsorship and extra-Government financing will be an inevitable by-product, while Bermuda's newly-conferred One Day International status should facilitate the greater exposure so desperately craved. It is also crucial to remember that this is not just about the West Indies in 2007. It is about ensuring that Bermudian cricket prospers for many years after and that qualifying for the World Cup becomes the norm rather than a freakish occurrence. It would indeed be a tragedy if the game's administrators and the Government adopted nothing more than a two-year plan.

Yet along with this elevation in status come enormous responsibilities, and Bermuda's future cricketing prosperity depends on the Government and the BCB getting this right. As BCB chief executive Neil Speight has said, areas such as pitches and practice facilities need serious investment while the sending of the island's young cricketing talents overseas on a regular basis to continue their cricketing education has got to be maintained and ultimately expanded. An elite, centrally contracted squad of players must also be established, with financial compensation for their hours of practice and play an unavoidable next step.

If Bermuda is serious about continuing to improve on its standing in the international game and doing justice to the plethora of talent which abounds on this tiny island, then a new culture of professionalism has to be forged. This is by no means an easy task ? some might say impossible. But one must never forget what good these heart-warming sporting triumphs can do for a small community caught in the grip of a bewildering array of social problems. And that, I would suggest, is a cause worth pursuing with every ounce of energy the community can muster.