he has been named to chair will come forward with recommendations that can "resurrect cricket in Bermuda''.

Upbeat during a press conference last week when Bermuda Cricket Board of Control confirmed that the veteran politician and popular radio commentator would head the committee appointed to look into restructuring the sport on the Island, Woolridge said he was anxious and raring to take on this latest challenge.

"We need to get this lovely sport back to its former pre-eminence so that we can get the large crowds back out,'' said Woolridge.

"I think we all have a major role to play in reviving and restructuring cricket here and in providing an avenue for young men so that they can go forward and take a rightful place in society.'' And he admitted he had been unhappy to see youth cricket decline as it has in recent years, contending that this was one area which needed to be addressed if the game was to prosper again.

"We had a very vibrant and successful youth programme. Now we have to look at reviving that and get this game back on track. We have lost an edge, and we need to get it back,'' he noted.

According to Woolridge "unfortunately Bermuda no longer produces the players like yesteryear''.

He added: "I remember when former English great Tom Graveney was here he said that there was something like 30-odd players in Bermuda who could make any English county team. This was a great tribute to Bermuda, and we need to get back there''.

The Board also confirmed that Bermuda would be one of four countries participating in the Christmas Cricket Festival which will take place in Florida next month with several games being played late into the night.

The knockout competition, organised by the Academy USA Inc., will be played at Fort Lauderdale Stadium on Sunday, December 3 and will feature four 30-over matches from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The other teams involved will be Jamaica, Guyana and a select from the United States.

The possibility of Bermuda arranging some sort of competition against Antigua is also on the cards.

Dr. Rodney Williams, Antigua's Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Community, indicated last week that he was having talks with BCBC president Ed Bailey about bringing a team here for a tour next year.

Williams, who was here for last week's Commonwealth Games General Assembly, said that the two countries could be brought much closer together through sporting ties.

"I will be having more discussions with Mr. Bailey about the prospects of a tour before I return home,'' said Dr. Williams while attending the Board's press conference.