Cann: Let's scrap two-day cricket

St. David's coach Lionel Cann has a unique solution to the troubles of Bermuda's two-day-league - scrap it and replace it with a Twenty20 Cup.

Cann insists he will be giving it his all to bring the two-day title to the east end when his side take on Southampton Rangers in a play-off for top spot this weekend. But he won't take much joy from winning a competition that has been so meekly contested. And the big-hitting all-rounder believes the Bermuda Cricket Board should call time on the beleagured league, which has been blighted by teams dropping out, players not turning up and matches being postponed.

Cann also criticized the decision to scrap the domestic cup competitions - a move, which he said would leave many of the clubs with little or nothing to play for come the end of the season.

"It's been a disappointing tournament," he said of the two-day competition. "Bay pulled out and we have only had to win one game to be in the final. To be honest with you I would just get rid of it. Bermuda is a country that is only ever going to play limited-overs cricket at the highest level. We're never going to be a Test nation so what are we trying to develop?

"Twenty20 and more limited overs is where cricket is heading. That's what brings the crowds in and gets the players excited. Bermuda doesn't even have a Twenty20 competition. Can you imagine the excitement and the crowds that a proper Twenty20 tournament would bring?"

Cann said he understood why the board wanted players to take part in the two-day league but said it wasn't working in practice. "It's a good concept if you have the quality and quantity of players. But Bermuda doesn't have that right now. If teams are getting bowled out in 40 overs anyway, how is that any different to a limited-overs game?"

Cann is also disappointed that the Premier and Combined Knockout Cups have been scrapped. "I don't know why they've done that. We should be looking to revitalise cricket after the World Cup but the changes they've made have just made it worse. We just have a long-drawn out season with everyone playing each other twice in the league and no cups.

"If you look at some teams that are down the bottom of the league, what incentives do they have to keep going? Once it gets to July, August, I think you'll see the same problems as there has been with the two-day league with clubs unable to get a team together. There aren't that many players who will come out just for the love of it. They need a trophy to play for at the very least.

"If they scrapped the second round of league fixtures so every one played each other once, brought back the cups and introduced a Twenty20 tournament, I'm sure that would get the crowds and the players excited about cricket again."

Despite his misgivings about the competition Cann believes his St. David's side and Rangers, his former team, are two of a very small number of teams in Bermuda who are equipped to play two-day cricket. And he is anticipating a good game at the weekend.

"You couldn't ask for two better teams for the final and Lord's is the best ground in Bermuda for a two-day game. Rangers are the champions and I'm sure they won't want to relinquish that but whichever way it goes down there'll be no hard feelings between either side."