<Bz12>B</Bz12>ERMUDA'S Masters cricket team flew out to England last night to compete in the West End Masters Tournament in Surrey.The team,
“We are funding this ourselves, but we also got some help from one or two corporate people. We also did some fundraising on our own,” said Richardson, who recently became the oldest counties colt in local cricket when he made his debut for Devonshire Rec. in the Central Counties second round at the age of 49!
He admits the Masters tournaments have sparked a new interest in the game for players over the age of 45, many of whom are now playing Commercial cricket.
“The reception we had when we went to Antigua certainly rejuvenated the guys to play in these tournaments,” said Richardson. “Next year we’re looking to host a tournament here.”
It was from their success in the Antigua Masters that an invitation was extended to the Bermuda team by the England Masters to visit England this summer. The team is eagerly looking forward to the trip and plans have been made for them to attend a 20/20 match this evening at the Oval in London between Surrey and Middlesex. The Bermuda players arrive in England this morning.
“The England Masters have also invited us to go to Arundel to watch the West Indies play a team consisting of a (England) team of recently retired Test players and future Test players in a 20/20 match,” said Richardson.
The first of Bermuda’s 40-over matches will take place on Sunday when they meet Capel Cricket Club. Further group matches are scheduled for June 27 (Westcott Cricket Club), 28 (Scotland Masters) and then against the England Masters. The finals on July 1 are between the top two teams in their respective groups.
“In between that we’ve got two 20-overs matches, which aren’t a part of the tournament,” Richardson disclosed.
Sq:<$> Lionel Thomas (captain), Allen Richardson, Andre Manders, Ken Pitcher, George Cannonier, Gerald Bean, Treadwell Gibbons, Clevie Wade, James Swan, Hoyt Zuill, Braxton Stowe, Leroy Wilson, Grant Smith, Ricky Hill, Ricky Brangman, Gilbert Caisey. The team returns on July 3.
[bul] The trip means that Richardson and coach Ricky Brangman will miss Devonshire Rec’s Central Counties final on Saturday with Young Men’s Social Club.
Two weeks after missing out on a first Belco Cup triumph, Social Club will be featured in another cup final, this time hoping to dethrone Devonshire.
Richardson was instrumental in Rec’s three-wicket win over Police earlier this month, scoring 45 not out on his debut while another colt, Jeremy Fray, hit 58 in his first appearance in the Central Counties as Devonshire advanced to the final. Both Devonshire and Social Club have explosive batsmen, with captain Dean Stephens the key man for Rec. while Social Club will rely heavily on player-coach Charlie Marshall and Glenn Blakeney to lead them to a good total.
Stephens was outstanding with both the bat and ball in the second round, scoring 31 off 18 balls to help pace the home team to victory over Police after earlier taking four for 23 from 10 overs.
Richardson admits he is enjoying playing with his new club, despite being twice the age of many of his new team-mates.
“My main focus for playing cricket is if I’m going to be a member of the Bermuda Cricket Board then I can get a better understanding of the type of players we’ve got today,” said Richardson, who recently served as a second vice president and has expressed his intention to run for the position of president at the next AGM. “By being in it first hand it puts you in good stead to make better decisions that will help cricket rather than standing on the sidelines, or not even going to matches, and then sitting in a meeting and making decisions based on past experiences. A lot has changed.‘I selected Devonshire Rec. simply because Ricky Brangman was the coach there and he told me to come up and get a couple of games in to get ready for the Masters tour. These guys want me to play every weekend.
“The guys have welcomed me with open arms, I couldn’t have asked for a better club to go to to be very honest. They are very receptive, eager to learn and it would be nice if some of our ex-players could latch onto a club and impart some knowledge. The young do want to listen, and then it’s how you present yourself as well.
“I’m also getting a better understanding of what makes our modern day players tick. We do need to up our game here in Bermuda. A lot of work needs to be done, but then again there are a lot of players, from what I’ve seen, who are not involved in our national programme and they should be.”
Sunday matches
Premier Division: Somerset v YMSC; Western Stars v Southampton; St. David’s v Under-19s; Cleveland v St. George’s.
First Division: Bailey’s Bay v Police; Warwick v Somerset Bridge; Devonshire Rec. v Willow Cuts; PHC v Leg Trappers.
Masters to play in England
