enjoyment of the game and the overall lack of organisation and foresight by the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control (BCBC), fast bowler Anthony (Pacer) Edwards has decided to quit the sport, effective immediately.

"The cricket is so boring with the open format and then with inexperienced umpires they're killing the game...I've just had enough, I'm tired,'' said Edwards, who earlier this season relinquished the captaincy at Devonshire Recreation Club.

"And it's not just me saying it, a lot of players have said the same thing.

Half of these umpires don't know what they're doing.

"And I'm not crying them down because we're losing either, I'm not enjoying it and decided to call it quits and spend more time with my family.'' Possibly encouraging the 33-year-old's premature departure from the sport were two recent incidents, one which resulted in a two match suspension and the other which occurred at Sea Breeze Oval on Sunday during Rec's match against defending Premier Division champions Bailey's Bay that could bring about further disciplinary action.

Following a controversial run out decision given by umpire Ewing Davis, Edwards was reported to have departed and them returned to the pitch with bat in hand, shouting verbal abuse at several of Bay's players.

However, while Edwards denied this ever happened -- his version was that he went back to escort team-mates Anthony Amory and Donald Norford, who were vehemently protesting the decision, back to the pavilion -- he intimated that the whole scene had convinced him to hang up his spikes.

Thus it would appear that what has been a sterling domestic and international career spanning two decades, which has seen Edwards stamp his name among the annals as one of Bermuda's best fast bowlers of his generation, has been closed.

But in Edwards' parting few among the local cricketing fraternity were spared as he launched a massive broadside attack.

Edwards said that most of the Island's cricketers were too self-centred, which was preventing Bermuda from advancing further than the level ICC tournament also rans, while the BCBC needed to work in closer partnership with the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association (BCUA) in order to ensure matches are competently adjudicated as well as return to the limited overs format.

"I've been mad since we boarded the plane from Africa (Kenya) last year and was ready to pack it in then. I'm mad that we're not in the World Cup and until guys can come together as a team we won't go to the World Cup.

"There's too much individual players, guys with big heads who only want to play for self.

"When we lost that last match (against Holland) there were only six guys who were really upset to the point of tears that we didn't make it while the rest were like... nothing, they were just along for the trip.

Edwards, the all-time leading wicket-taker for Bermuda at both the ICC and International Youth Tournaments and a former Cup Match performer for Somerset, then turned to the governing body and BCUA, saying: "The BCBC needs to be more aware of what's going on with the umpires and their selection for big matches involving the top teams.

"They need to get off their tails and go out to watch matches and observe what is happening with the umpiring, because it's not always the players, but the umpires making mistakes that's causing players to do these things. And, I tell you, it's not going to be me taking a bat and striking them, but somebody else will.

"Everyone needs to come together and sort things out. Right now the people running cricket don't know what they're doing, just look at what they're doing in changing from limited overs back to open cricket and then next year they'll probably go back to (limited) overs.

"Still, they all see me as the bad guy and they won't listen to me, because I do things that they don't like. But I know cricket. I dream, eat and sleep cricket and have for the last 20 years. It's the only game I truly love.'' Admitting that his move would likely hurt his club's chances of finishing among the top half, Edwards expressed sorrow for his team-mates, but added that his mental and physical well-being was more important.

Finally, he thanked his older, former team-mates for their positive influence over the years, saying that those were memories he would forever treasure.

ANTHONY EDWARDS