Dear Sir,

Not too long ago I was reading and was fascinated by an article by well known West Indian cricket commentator and writer Fazeer Mohammed entitled 'Stanford 20/20 cannot contribute to West Indies' revival'.

In it he questions whether this form of the game can really be viewed as a tool for the re-engineering of a struggling West Indies team into a real force at Test or even one-day international level.

He points out that since the conclusion of the first Stanford 20/20 tournament, the West Indies cricket team have won only one out of ten Test matches, and twenty of 44 ODIs.

He goes on to say that in the first three rounds of this year's regional first class competition the average total per innings was less than 220 runs. He finally concludes by saying that 'If the event is to be measured solely for its entertainment value, then the organisers must be commended for tapping into a winning formula by blending the increasingly popular Twenty20 form of the game with West Indian style, flair and exuberance on the field and beyond the boundary.

'But if it is also being marketed as a means of contributing to the revival of the West Indies as a competitive force, especially in Test cricket, then that claim seems very wide down the leg-side.'

I believe Fazeer Mohammed has hit the proverbial nail on the head, in fact I would go so far as to predict that as Stanford's 20/20 competition gains greater ascendancy in the Caribbean, there will be a corresponding decline in the fortunes of the West Indies as a worldwide cricketing power.

The truth is that 20/20 cricket and the five-day game have very little in common. In Test cricket a batsman has to build an innings, he is often called upon to demonstrate not only attacking strokes but defensive technique for long periods of time, while bowlers cannot merely focus on being line and length 'trundlers' but are forced to out think and work out batsmen.

Like it or not, Test cricket remains the supreme contest, the true test of a cricketer's skills, the arena which separates the men from the boys.

In the long term, I foresee Stanford's 20/20 tournament becoming the Cup Match of the Caribbean, an exciting and entertaining spectacle that will draw crowds and thrill millions of television viewers around the world but offer very little in terms of producing quality West Indian cricketers to compete in the longer versions of the game.

Unfortunately, many Caribbean players with the potential to develop into good Test cricketers may opt to focus on Stanford's more lucrative competition than travel the more difficult and less profitable road of becoming Test cricketers.

I conclude with a quote from Fazeer's article, one that we can apply to what is currently taking place with respect to our very own cricket: 'Money can buy almost anything, even credibility. But like the emperor with no clothes, the plain truth is there for all to see, at least those who are not blinded by the bright lights and the dollar signs.'

RECMAN

Dear Sir,

Last Sunday night I watched with my family and with disgust the performance of the Bermuda cricket team.

Having to listen to the commentators make a mockery of our so-called athletes was painful; moreso was the appearance of them when they "rolled" out onto the field of play.

I love this Island and to see it represented on the world stage by people who cannot even be bothered to get into shape is very disappointing.

Dwayne Leverock for all his talent as a spinner, it still looked somewhat of a joke. How can a man tipping the scales at over 275-lbs be expected to get the "quick singles" required in a game of Twenty20?

The opposition were lean, fit and simply outclassed an outfit that was short of only a few of its top class players.

However, it is not only the appalling fitness that worries me. Tactics of the Bermudian batsmen can, at best, be described as dubious.

With two overs remaining and a dismal 59 runs on the board, why did our players continue to prod away and defend? There are no extra points for not being completely bowled out; even the commentator joined me as I screamed to the batsman 'Give it a go!'

Our inability to deal with a spin attack and to cope with the tactics employed by Guyana's bowling offence was all too apparent. But the problems did not end with the bat.

Misfieldings were ever present, catches were dropped and Guyana picked up extra runs as the fielders were unable to collect the ball with the first attempt on many occasions.

At one point the commentator spoke of our batting and fielding as being "equally pathetic".

I would like to say that there was one player who we can thank for a gutsy performance, getting over one third of all our runs. David Hemp once again was the only player who looked comfortable, excelling with the bat before an unfortunate edge to the 'keeper. If only the rest of the team could follow his lead.

I'm not writing this for the sake of bashing a few beaten sportsmen. I would like for us as a collective group to tell these players that it is simply not good enough, that we should no longer celebrate mediocrity and need to bring back the pride to representing your country on the biggest stage.

The expression on (coach) Herbie Bascombe's face as he was being interviewed pitch-side said it all. I felt as embarrassed and angry as he looked.

FAN OF BERMUDIAN SPORT

Dear Sir,

It is plainly obvious that the cricket team Bermuda put forward in the 20/20 should have stayed home.

The team were not competitive enough and it showed. Our players all looked like they didn`t belong and confidence was out the window.

So much for "our heroes" as some people called this team ( very poor choice of words in the first place if you ask me.) One has to wonder just what went into training for this humiliation. As they say, you only get out of something what you put in.

Some old school cricketers have said there needs to be a major shake-up in the cricket board . . . but is that enough? I think not.

Monies have been paid, there is NOTHING to show for it . . . heads need to roll.

So out with the old and in with the new , from coaching to bench warmers. Why is this the only country in the world that keeps putting money into a non-competitive and losing team.

So please do what needs to be done and do it NOW!

WAC

Pembroke

Dear Sir,

After the very embarrassing performance by the hopeless cricket team, I feel the next steps are plainly simple:

1 FIRE the entire Bermuda Cricket Board! Hire new cricket people who aren't biased and fall on favourtism.The new Board should consist of people who realise that players who normally score a century in Cup Match are better players than the players who simply look for single digits every time they play, regardless of past differences with the Board (Janeiro's and Kevin's issues).

2 That new cricket board should turn around and hire an international coach (no offence to Herbie Bascome) to guide the players. Herbie should tag along to offer support.

3 The new players should consist of Kevin Hurdle, Janeiro Tucker, Lionel Cann, Charlie Marshall (if Marshall isn't able, then Brangman or Romaine or perhaps both), David Hemp and the Under-19 squad. Yes, this might put a damper on the Under-19 squad. Young upcoming players like Oronde Bascombe and Malachi (can't remember his last name) have already proven they can score. Also Lionel Cann could be captain or Janeiro Tucker (sorry Sluggo, although you're good at bowling, you'll need to bring yourself to 145-lbs before you're ready for this new team).

4 Players should eat, sleep, drink cricket only until it's solid in them, that they are ready to face opposing teams. Since Hemp scored 23 runs, this will apply more to the other players.

5.They shouldn't be facing easy friendlies if the main opposition is a team like Guyana.They should face a team with similiarities or a junior version of that type of team.

6 Last and not least, each player should be paid $500 to start out and only receive more providing they play at a level that the coach wants to see. Penalties should be issued if they abuse the rules after they get paid.

7 $11,000,000 was a wasteful amount on that Standford 20/20 and something needs to be better for next time (what happens to that money now?)

I don't follow cricket but, I feel if these steps take place, it'll be a complete turnaround from the enbarrassing loss the regular players faced.

BERMUDA NEEDS YOUNG

AND EXPERIENCED PLAYERS

Pembroke

Dear Sir,

Despite having one Trinidadian, one Jamaican and a player from Guyana on Bermuda's 20/20 team, the argument to reduce the number of Associated Members in the World Cup from six to four is justified to maintain the quality of the game.

Either way, it is obvious, despite our new diversity, that Bermuda's most pressing problem in local cricket is not who was on the field, but our honesty and openness as to why other eligible players were not on the field and who did not select them.

SAM

Warwick