New bonus points incentives for both limited overs and open cricket and two-day cricket matches spread over two weekends could be introduced to domestic cricket as early as next season, Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) development director Arnold Manders has revealed.

Former Bermuda and Western Stars' all-rounder Manders is now proposing a two-day cricket format that could see matches played over two weekends and teams permitted to chop and change a 13 -player roster on any given weekend.

In addition, bonus points for first innings winners and outright wins will also be at stake in the open cricket format, while teams boasting the superior run rate in limited overs matches also stand to benefit from the proposed bonus points incentive.

"In the 50 overs game in Australia if you score a certain amount of runs in a match you receive extra points which is something that I think will encourage more attacking cricket here in Bermuda," Manders said.

"The eventual league champions will be the most aggressive teams which will also eliminate the problem at the end of the season whenever teams finish tied on points and have won the same amount of games.

"The teams that play the most attacking cricket will be the champions and I think the new bonus points system will encourage teams to play more positive cricket."

Local cricket's governing body have already contemplated doing away with open cricket after interest in the beleaguered format plummeted to an all-time low this past season.

Manders, however, remains optimistic that his radical proposal for a two-day format could go some way towards re-stimulating interest in the longer version of the game – often regarded by many as an essential tool in the development of aspiring international cricketers.

"I don't know if we will ever get two-day cricket back in Bermuda, but in Australia they play two-day cricket over two weekends and bonus points are awarded to the team that wins the first innings and eventually wins the match," he explained.

"The other thing they (Aussies) do that I thought was very interesting is they (teams) are allowed to use 13 players in two -day matches.

"If a player bats on one particular weekend he can be replaced by another player who can bat and bowl in the same match the following weekend."

Last month Manders accompanied national team skipper Irving Romaine, and players Oronde Bascome, Tamuari Tucker, Kyle Hodsoll, Chris Douglas and Rodney Trott – all currently attending a six-week training exercise at the Brisbane Cricket Academy – Down Under where he had the privilege of touring Australia's Cricket School of Excellence based at the new Queensland Cricket Academy.

The Queensland Cricket Academy, which boasts the impressive Allan Border Field, comes equipped with 14 nets (seven turf and seven astro turf), a training field used for simulated bowling, batting and fielding drills and a weight room which also features ice pools for ice baths for recovery and injury prevention.

"This has been an excellent opportunity for me to see first class training facilities and to watch our players' development so far," Manders said.

"Most interestingly, I had the opportunity to see how Australian domestic cricket operates and it is my aim to introduce some aspects to Bermuda cricket in 2009."

Manders is also pleased with the progress made by Bermuda's six representatives currently attending the Brisbane Cricket Academy where they have now successfully completed the Australian Level One Coaching Course.

"Some of these players are already coaching in the schools and during the summer (cricket camps) and now they are certified and have a better understanding of the basic tools of their trade," he said.

"The players have had the opportunity to experience different facilities and coaching methods and I am looking forward to evaluating their progress when they return to Bermuda."