Dear Sir,

Please allow me to express my delight at the team selected to tour Canada for three One-Day Internationals and, of course, the four-day Intercontinental Cup match.

The squad favours youth over experience which should come as no surprise when one considers that Bermuda is currently in rebuilding mode. A number of veterans have quite rightly decided to make way for the youngsters and though they will be missed, their exit provides others with the opportunity to make their mark at international level.

I appreciate chairman of selectors, Lionel Thomas, taking the time to explain that a few players were left out because they didn't attend training sessions.

This provides cricket fans with the reason why some of their favourites are missing. I also hasten to add, I agree wholeheartedly with the principle that a player who refuses to train should not be selected, no matter who they are!

While skipper Irving Romaine will have to lead from the front when it comes to the batting, much will be expected from Steven Outerbridge, Jekon Edness, Oronde Bascome, Sammy Robinson and O.J. Pitcher who have shown good form with the bat so far this season.

I will especially be interested to see how Stefan Kelly and Tamari Tucker perform with the ball. The return of George O'Brien provides Bermuda with more firepower while Ryan Steede and Dwayne Leverock know what it takes to be successful at this level. All in all, it is a good team and I wish each and every member of the squad success.

On Monday evening I decided to watch the national football team in action against Barbados. Their performance in the first half was brilliant.

I was very impressed with young Reggie Lambe who was outstanding and caused the Barbadian defence major headaches right up until he was substituted in the second half. If we can tighten up our defence a bit more we should be able to get a good result against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday.

Finally, over the last few weeks I have been approached at cricket matches by disgruntled Warwick and Southampton cricket fans over wrongs each feel they have suffered at the hands of the other.

Both groups appear to have some validity to their grievances. I won't go into details with regard to the problems but merely appeal to these two great clubs to do all in their power to resolve their differences for the good of cricket in Bermuda.

RECMAN