A NEW cricket season begins on Sunday with little fuss and even less fanfare.

For whatever reason, the build-up to the 2005 domestic campaign of one of Bermuda?s two so-called national sports has been barely noticeable.

No doubt Bermuda Cricket Board have been preoccupied with the national squad?s preparation for this summer?s all-important ICC Trophy in Ireland.

But it seems along the way the bread and butter of league cricket has been pushed to one side.

Like so many of our big sports, cricket doesn?t always seem to recognise the importance of self-promotion.

The hierarchy are the first to complain whenever a negative story hits the headlines, but in between they do little to market their own product.

If it wasn?t for some prodding from this newspaper ? and there?s certainly no point in relying on the rest of the sports media in this regard ? then it?s unlikely we would have yet been informed on the league basics, such as schedule and format.

As this article goes to press, we?re still not sure just how many grounds will be ready for the season-opening this Sunday.

Accepting that the BCB face some real problems in getting organised so soon after the conclusion of the soccer season, there?s still so much more that could be done to raise the game?s profile.

This season is a huge one for Bermuda cricket.

If the national team can find their form in Ireland and secure one of the top five places which will guarantee a first-ever Bermuda appearance in the World Cup, the incentive for our league players, particularly the youngsters, to perform well in domestic competition this season is enormous.

Many of those who will play in the ICC Trophy could be past their prime when the World Cup finals roll around in 2007 and the opportunity is clearly there for any young talent aspiring to play on the biggest stage of all.

That fact needs to be driven home to the players by the governing body. But publicly, at least, we?ve heard no such encouragement.

Having played an integral role in West Indies cricket as both player and coach, new Bermuda coach Gus Logie will be acutely aware of the importance of garnering public support.

And his disclosure this week on behalf of the BCB that financial rewards, courtesy of sponsors Cingular, await those players who put up the most impressive performances each weekend, is a step in the right direction.

But if that snippet of information hadn?t been revealed in a routine interview this week, one wonders when the Board would have got around to making some kind of announcement.

The season begins on Sunday, for heaven?s sake!

This newspaper will do all it can to support local cricket, particularly in a season when our leading players can make history.

But a little more enthusiasm from the Board itself wouldn?t go amiss.

SHAUN GOATER?S season seems to go from bad to worse.

Having been left out in the cold by Reading for so long he was finally thrown a lifeline by League Championship strugglers Coventry City.

Yet after five games he?s still to find the back of the net and his actual time on the pitch diminishes with every match that passes.

It?s all a far cry from the halcyon days at Manchester City and, as depressing as they may be, thoughts of retirement must now be lingering.

But should Shaun decide to hang up his boots at the end of this season, he could do so with his head held high.

Despite a wretched last nine months, he has nothing else to prove.