While reviewing a 1983 edition of the (now defunct) Bermuda Cricket Annual, data found on Page 23 of that document caused me to reflect on Bermuda?s cricketing status from a global perspective.

It was particularly interesting to note the final standings of the various teams involved in the previous years? ICC Associate Members? competition.

An examination of the fortunes or, dare we say, ?developments? of the respective countries over the last two decades proves quite revealing.

Such a review should heighten awareness of just how much Bermuda?s cricket has stagnated while others have thrived. No fewer than five of the minnows listed have progressed since that time to the point that they have featured in the World Cup proper. These include Canada ? who also participated in 1979 ? Kenya, Zimbabwe, Holland and Bangladesh.

A sixth nation, the USA, will be involved in the Champions Trophy Tournament to be held in England next month. This, their reward for emerging as winners of the Six Nations Cup held in the UAE earlier this spring.

Significantly, additional countries have joined the party since those early days. These include successful countries such as Scotland, Namibia, the UAE and the 2005 ICC Trophy hosts, Ireland.

This month?s Wisden Cricketer (Page 14) reports how three good men, a chief executive, a coach and a captain have transformed the latter?s plight ? so much so that Ireland followed up a ten-wicket demolition of Zimbabwe in 2003 with a very recent win over the West Indies in a one-day match. Bermuda beware!

But what will it take, besides getting the best eleven local cricketers on an international field for once, for Bermuda?s cricketers to get over that final hurdle? What fates await us ? or rather the question should be what can we do now to impact our fate?

As Sam Stevens so aptly wrote in a recent article, with ? that is winter training, tours, coaching etc. ? the Bermuda team should be able to give a fine account of themselves in Ireland in 2005.

While some are publicly critical of Ed Bailey?s achievements during his tenure at the helm of the BCB, the one thing you cannot accuse him of is sending under-prepared teams to international tournaments.

Before the ICC Trophy in Kenya back in 1994, Bermuda?s senior team travelled to England, Barbados, Jamaica and Guyana twice.

On those tours, we played against a wide variety of strong cricketing outfits, from county second elevens in the UK to top club sides in the Caribbean. Once the tournament commenced in Africa, Bermuda hit the ground running and our success that year was therefore of no great surprise.

The same could certainly not be said of the Island?s Americas Cup campaign this year where the team?s only pre-tournament matches were against a weak Lloyd?s Cricket Club.

Speaking of proper preparation, it will be critical for the Board to appoint a dynamic coach for the year ahead, one whose international reputation and proven coaching ability is something the players will respond to. Personally I would hope that there is some interest from Australia or South Africa.

In 1979, the ICC permitted two teams to progress to the World Cup with Bermuda losing to Canada in the semi-finals of that tournament. (Canada successfully chased Bermuda?s 181 all out, having been floundering at 62 for five).

In 1982, the ICC chose to allow one member of the Associates through to the big dance only for Bermuda to come second to Zimbabwe.

In 1994, the ICC elected to send three teams through, but this time Bermuda finished fourth.

Now as the ICC Trophy in 2005 beckons, the world governing body has expanded the number of qualifying slots available to five.

It will all come down to the amount of time and financial investment the government, the sport?s governing body and the players are prepared to put in.

Will the time ever ever come when a Bermudian team are taken abroad to travel, train and play matches for lengthy periods devoid of financial concerns? As our country considers spending millions to host warm-up matches for the 2007 World Cup, should we not be looking to develop our own players so that one day we too can savour success?

Talking of commitment to our future international success, I could not help but ponder how Bermuda?s fortunes might have transpired in the ongoing under-19 tournament in Jamaica with our full contingent of ?unavailable? players?

One wonders if OJ Pitcher?s (20 and 3), Delyone Borden?s (0 and 30) and Stephen Outerbridge?s (17) Cup Match scores have prompted any second thoughts on their part about choosing to pass up the opportunity of pitting their skills against the future stars of the Caribbean.

This writer certainly understands their plight, having passed on the International Youth Tournament in 1979 because of the lure of the annual Classic. Oh, the benefits of hindsight and adult perspective!

And speaking of second thoughts as well, I really do believe that Albert Steede should reconsider his decision to retire. Listening to commentary during the recent Eastern Counties clash between St.David?s and Bailey?s Bay, it is evident that the Saltus educator still has much to offer the game.

Like Clay Smith, he has the ability to concentrate for long periods of time and he possesses character and a wide-ranging arsenal of strokes. In fact, add Steede, Dean Minors and Janeiro Tucker (he of the new hairstyle) and the Bermuda senior national squad take on a whole new look.

While I disagree with Bermuda hosting warm-up games for the 2007 World Cup, some of the Board?s other recent initiatives have been commendable.

In recent times they have been extremely proactive in sending our young cricketers away to international cricket academies to further develop their games. The exposure to first-class coaches, training facilities and playing standards can only benefit Bermuda cricket.

I believe also that reviving awards such as the old Heineken Cricketer of the Year ? with the winner receiving $2,000 and free tickets to an international match of his choosing ? would go some way to reviving the interest of club players and stimulating greater competition. A similar incentive could also be offered to groundsmen and umpires.

Many don?t appreciate just how close Bermuda has come to realising the dream of World Cup participation. On that fateful day, July 10 1982, at the spacious Grace Road, Leicester ground, under the brilliant captaincy of Colin Blades, Bermuda came within a whisker. If not for the untimely, limping departure of the lethal Adrian King, after only three overs, or one crucial missed chance, Bermuda?s cricketing fortunes might have been so different.