Congratulations to Social Club for winning the league title back to back.

This was something that I didn't expect, but you pulled it off and I keep asking myself how?

The questions in my mind forced me to pull out my old scrap books of an old St.George's team that went undefeated some 10 years ago. This then made me think of the St. David's team that went undefeated some seven years ago.

I just couldn't help myself comparing the two with the new back-to-back champions, Social Club.

Firstly, let me say that what Social Club have achieved is phenomenal. Looking at where they have come from to where they are now, it's nothing short of remarkable.

The aim in this article is not to degrade their achievements but to simply highlight how Bermuda cricket has depleted over the years and why.

Here are a few of the players from the old St. George's powerhouse team: Wendell Smith, Dean Minors, Lionel Cann, Gregg Foggo, David Adams, Ricky Hodsoll, Mark Ray, Graham Fox, Kenny Philips, and Eugene Foggo (these are just a few).

Here are a few of the players from an old St .David's powerhouse team: Glen Blakeley, Philip Pitcher, Chris Foggo, OJ Pitcher, Dean Minors, Delyone Borden, Dell Hollis, Dale Fox, Landroe Minors, Lionel Cann, and George O'Brien (these are just a few).

The St. David's team listed above actually beat Social Club some five years ago in St. David's and bowled them all out for 52. Even though Social Club have added three to four additional faces to their team since then, my question remains: how have Social Club been able to close the gap so quickly?

Personally, I think the answer is simple.

There have been too many clubs for too many years that have focused solely on winning, forgetting that younger players have to fill their shoes.

Development of their young players have been ignored, and the evidence shows when most teams hardly have any homegrown young players.

In addition, several top clubs lost key players due to personal rifts. Several players have moved on to different clubs and the clubs that once used to be dominant are no longer.

Another key factor to our rapid decline is the loss of several good players from one era all at once.

They all left the game around the same time leaving a gap which has been difficult to close – Noel Gibbons, one of Bermuda's best all-rounders, Ricky Hill, a stylish opening bat of high quality, Arnold Manders, Bermuda's most versatile player, Richard Basden, a great all-rounder with loads of mental toughness, Jeff Richardson, an aggressive ball beater, Wendell Smith, Mr. Reliable, Bermuda's most consistent opening bat, Terry Burgess and pacer Edwards, the prolific duo, the brothers Gary and Allen Brangman, accuracy and aggression.

I have just named a few of Bermuda's greats and clearly you can see the class that Bermuda has lost all in one era. Who have come to replace them?

But let me give credit where credit is due – what Social Club lack in ability, they make up for in determination.

Quite a few of Social Club's roster were around when their team were the whipping boys of cricket. As a result, they are determined to enjoy success now.

I am a believer that if two teams are close in ability, the team with the most unity will win the majority of the time, and that is definitely where Social Club had the edge on their competition.

I do have some sincere advice for Social Club, though. I want to emphasise to Charlie (Marshall) and his boys – if you want to stay at the top you must start grooming some young ones for the future. You must construct a solid youth programme from which your senior team in future years can select from, thus bringing longevity to your programme.

The one team on the Island right now that you can emulate is St.David's – they are a prime example of a club with a successful youth programme.

Lastly, there was one more thing that I noticed. I do not think there has ever been a league team that have won the league and not had a single player in the national programme.

I do not know if I am supposed to congratulate you on that or not. What does this say for our cricket? My challenge to Social Club is to get at least three players playing for our national team. It is a goal that all quality players should aspire to.

Having said that, I close with these words: "Bermuda cricketers, it is time to put up or shut up. World Cup qualifications are just around the corner and your country needs you. If you think winning a league title is big, or winning a County Cup trophy is big, you could never imagine the feeling of playing for your country and qualifying for the Cricket World Cup. We did it once, let's do it again!"