With opportunities now endless, national coach Gus Logie has encouraged all those associated with cricket on the Island to put their best foot forward and collectively help to enhance and promote the game on the eve of the start of the 2007 season.

The former West Indies vice-captain and coach has called for the community to throw their full support behind the sport while also urging players, coaches, administrators, umpires and ground staff to aim for higher standards moving forward.

“The international community is scrutinising everything we do here internally so it’s not just a Bermuda thing anymore — Bermuda is now news outside. And recognition for what we are doing here goes a long way and I think we must be conscious of that. So we need to be able to capitalise and make sure that our house is in order,” said Logie yesterday.

With many keen to invest in Bermuda cricket, Logie said the impetus was now on those involved to see to it that funding was put to good use.

“I think the sponsors that are putting their money into various programmes must get their money’s worth and see that the product is being enhanced,” he added.

“So we want to see players taking the game as seriously as possible and competing in a competitive but fair environment and producing good scores, taking wickets and catches. And all of this comes down to individual preparation and I have no doubts the clubs have been preparing themselves for the season.

“But we have to make sure that all of the processes that have been talked about in the past are put in place such as discipline, umpiring, players adhering to the rules and playing the game in the spirit that it should be played in. And from an organisation point of view you want to see everything run as smoothly as possible.

“The other aspect is the facilities . . . making sure they are up to the standard required for the players to go out there and enjoy a good game.

“And we would also like to see the crowd coming out again and the community getting involved.

“If all of this can be achieved then at the end of the day we are only going to see improvement.”

With more international exposure on the horizon, Logie said incentives were now in place for all of the Island’s cricketers to strive for.

“Opportunities are now endless and so the individual players themselves must be totally motivated because we are going to be playing a lot of international games, possibly in the next few months and years,” he said.

“You walk in the street and people are always talking cricket. Cricket is in the air and there’s no two-ways about it. People are now more familiar with what is happening and so it means that cricket is on the lips of everyone.

“But it’s all about what the perception is out there as far as Bermuda cricket is concerned and we want to make sure the perception is positive all round.”

The 2007 schedule officially kicks off today with the Two -Day League — again split into four divisions — taking centre stage over the weekend.

In the sole Premier Division contest at Southampton Oval, defending champions and hosts Southampton Rangers welcome St.George’s while the other match between St.David’s and Bailey’s Bay at Lords has been postponed due to the latter team’s inability to field sufficient numbers (see story this page).

Leg Trappers and Western Stars will do battle at Sea Breeze Oval while Social Club lock horns with Central Counties rivals Devonshire at Devonshire Recreation Club in First Division play.

Second Division PHC host Western Counties rivals Warwick at White Hill Field while the match between Cleveland and Willow Cuts slated for Wellington Oval has been postponed due to the unavailability of the field.

In this weekend’s only Third Division contest, Somerset take on neighbours Somerset Bridge in a West End derby at Somerset Cricket Club.