THOSE who read Sports Mailbox in The Royal Gazette will be aware there's not a more prolific or, it could be argued, perceptive writer than our correspondent who goes by the name of Recman.

It's no great secret that the man behind that pseudonym is a former Bermuda Cricket Board of Control committee member.

Indeed, Recman isn't so much a pen name as it is a nickname.

And it's one that in recent years has become almost synonymous with the sport itself.

Nobody's more passionate about Bermuda cricket than Recman. Nobody supports the national team more fervently and nobody cares more about the direction in which the local game is headed.

Not everybody, not least those currently serving on the BCBC, agrees with everything Recman writes. He's ruffled a few feathers on more than the odd occasion.

But by and large he talks sense. He understands the complexity of the game and as one who has closely observed international cricket, he appears to understand what it takes to be competitive at the highest level.

Thus, the BCBC could do a lot worse than study very carefully the recommendations that Recman made in a letter published in Wednesday's edition of The Gazette this week.

In this columnist's opinion, he was spot-on.

Looking ahead to the World Cup qualifying matches to be held in Los Angeles next September, Recman had this to say:

"It will not be easy qualifying for the World Cup but I believe Bermuda can do it if they perform to the best of their ability. The teams I expect to give Bermuda the most trouble in their qualifying group are Ireland, Denmark and the United States.

Both Ireland and the United States defeated Bermuda in the last ICC Trophy tournament in Toronto, Canada while Denmark ran them close. Therefore it is imperative that the Bermuda senior national squad be properly prepared and at full strength for this competition if we are to be successful. Qualification for the 2007 World Cup takes on added significance when one considers that it will be played in the West Indies.

The competition in Los Angeles will be the most important fixture on our international calendar next year as qualification for the World Cup (aside from winning it) is the highest goal to which our cricketers can aspire. The BCBC would therefore be well advised to appoint a special committee specifically to deal with the planning and preparation of the team for this campaign.

Because of its importance, I believe this effort is too big to leave in the hands of one man, be it our national coach or anyone else. Further the right people must be selected to sit on such a committee. It should not consist of those who are strictly administrators but involve individuals with a keen insight into the game itself, i.e. former players, coaches and senior players.

I personally would suggest a committee made up of national coach Mark Harper and comprising the three senior players on the squad, Charlie Marshall, Albert Steede and Clay Smith, as well as assistant coach Winston Reid and former Bermuda captains Gladstone (Sad) Brown and Wendell Smith.

Every aspect of Bermuda's preparation for the competition would fall under this committee's purview.

The committee could meet as often as needs be and should be given a free hand to implement whatever strategies they deem fit to ensure the team's success.

In recent times our national cricket team has suffered in international competitions because of poor preparation i.e. ICC in Toronto, Canada. It is therefore incumbent on this Board to ensure that this does not happen again!"

That says it all. And if the Board think otherwise, then let's hear exactly how they do intend to prepare for next September's tournament.

With the prospect of hosting at least one of the matches in the 2007 World Cup, Bermuda's governing body should spare no effort in ensuring that the national team are given the absolute best possible chance of playing a part in those finals.

And as Recman says, their preparation should start right now.

* * * *

LAST week might have been one of the most eventful on the sporting calendar for many a year.

Yet through it all, there was only one name on every Bermudian's lips.

Wherever one went over the holiday weekend, the conversation seemed to turn immediately to . . . Shaun Goater.

If two goals against the biggest guns of British football, Manchester United, including his 100th as a Man City player, in the last derby game to be played at Maine Road wasn't the crowning glory of an already illustrious career, then it's difficult to imagine what might be.

To use that old sporting cliche 'it doesn't get any better than that'.

Yet, as we've come to expect, the phlegmatic striker took it all in his stride.

A team player through and through, Shaun appeared genuinely more concerned about City's continued climb up the Premier League than any personal milestone.

But he can rest assured his performance on Saturday won't be forgotten by the City fans nor his many followers here in Bermuda for a long time to come.

- ADRIAN ROBSON