Dennis Wainwright, regarded by many as one of the finest opening batsmen and wicketkeepers Bermuda have ever produced, believes he has a solution for the national team?s batting woes at the top of the order ? the use of coconut matting on concrete surfaces during practice.

Wainwright, who featured in two double-century partnerships while representing local select teams on tours of England and Australia during his heyday, strongly believes Bermuda?s problems can be resolved through practising on coconut matting, which was predominant prior to the introduction of turf batting strips in the 1960s.

Bermuda?s openers, in particular, have consistently failed this summer despite success at the ICC Trophy and Intercontinental Cup.

Wainwright, who kept behind the stumps for Flatts and St.George?s during an outstanding career spanning over two decades, still holds records for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in Cup Match (37) and the Eastern Counties (31).

?I?ve always maintained we should be training on concrete strips with coconut matting because it encourages bowlers to bowl fast and helps batsmen learn how to play the rising ball which tends to come off much quicker on concrete,? Wainwright explained.

?But now you can?t find opening batsmen in the Island and a perfect example lies with the national team. Every time we look there?s a different opening batsman. I think part of the problem is they don?t receive the benefits of practising on concrete where the ball swings and moves about quickly. That?s how you learn to play back and across, cut, hook and get out of the way.

?When top teams used to tour Bermuda with fast bowlers we never wore any helmets, thigh and arm pads or any other items like that. Our batsmen learned how to get out of the way and as a result of playing on concrete surfaces we were able then to compete with any team that visited our shores.

?When it came to pace we dealt with it but we don?t even have fast bowlers anymore whereas during my time every team had a fast bowler.

?And we always looked forward to incoming tours because that?s how we measured ourselves. And we were never outclassed.?

There is widespread belief that Southampton Rangers? early order bat Dion Stovell could provide an answer to the national team?s problems.

But first the talented batsman will have to ?curb? his aggressive nature, Wainwright said.

?We seem to have trouble bringing our young people through,? he added.? And you have to ask the question ?where are the young people?? I have been watching this boy Stovell and he has been coming along good. But I think he has to realise that ability alone is not enough.

?Stovell was coming along nicely, travelled to Jamaica and misbehaved to the point where the umpires got involved. He then had to appear before the Board where he misbehaved and then people cry out the Board is wrong.

?And people support this sort of behaviour instead of standing firm when our youngsters jump out of line.?

As for UK-based county batsman David Hemp joining ranks with Gus Logie?s team, Wainwright said: ?I think we should first investigate this player. This guy is 35 years-old and obviously had potential during his 20s but then there?s also the possibility he could be trying to jump on the bandwagon.

?However, if he can be valuable to the team then he should be put in the squad and put through his paces like everybody else. He can certainly be an asset if he has all of this experience.?

Wainwright would also like to see fiery St.David?s fast bowler George O?Brien included in the national programme.

?O?Brien does have his share of challenges, even with his skipper at St.David?s (Clay Smith),? he added. ?He does have a history of disciplinary problems, so right from the start you can?t bring a player like that into the national team. You?d certainly be taking a chance.

?But I really don?t see why people made such a fuss over O?Brien not going on this last tour (Namibia) when he and Stovell, for that matter, still have time to groom themselves for the big one (World Cup).

?But this is a problem that we are experiencing with many of today?s players from the top down and that?s deportment. Bad sportsmanship is being displayed in the league and even now in Cup Match ? and that was unheard of years gone by because you had to respect decisions and also the players.?

Another stumbling block, Wainwright has observed over a period of time, has been the preference of limited overs cricket.

?I have never been a supporter of limited overs cricket in our leagues. I think it does have its place but it doesn?t develop frontline batsmen because they are always watching the score or taking unnecessary chances,? he argued.

?That?s why non bowlers can get wickets today because all they have to do is bowl straight and the batsman will eventually give his wicket away because he is obliged to.

?In the longer version of the game you have to work a batsman out. The batsman has an opportunity to play himself in. But what can a developing bowler do in ten overs??

On a more positive note, Wainwright said he was happy to see Logie come onboard as national coach. He also believed local schools could gain from the former West Indies vice-captain?s wealth of experience.

?Here we have a coach with a lot of experience and I think we need to get him in the schools and involved with other coaches like when Bob Jones (former national coach) was here,? he suggested.

?We need to get the O?Briens and Stovells and any other youngster who might have problems to meet with the coach. And I think Logie?s the ideal man for this because I?m sure he?s encountered aggressive, young players in the Caribbean before.

?Clay Smith can?t discipline anybody because he is one of the worst offenders. Therefore you have to rely upon someone like the national coach. And I honestly feel Logie is the only man who can help get these guys back on track because he is very sincere and has lots of valuable experience.?