Bermuda off-season wrap

Cleon Scotland is a recent Bermuda national team player and commentates for the Bermuda Broadcasting Commission on domestic cricket matches. 'Beyond The Test World' is pleased to welcome Cleon aboard.

With three months to go before the start of the Bermudian cricket season, the 15 Premier Division teams have begun training and recruiting players.

All eyes will be on the 1999 league champions, Southampton Rangers who were led magnificently by their veteran player/coach Clevie Wade and their outstanding all-rounder Janeiro Tucker. Having not won the title in 20 years, they will not want to relinquish their new-found status.

One of the main challengers for their crown will come from 1999 treble winners, Western Stars. However, Stars will have internal concerns to deal with first, having to replace the new-ball brother tandem of Gary and Allan Brangman who have retired. This will be a huge hole to fill and their claims to the 2000 title may be a bit ambitious.

Another club looking to dominate this season are the Eastern Counties Champions, St. David's, who will be led for the second straight season by Clay Smith. Arguably Bermuda's best batsman, Smith endured a disappointing season having lost the St. George's Cup Match captaincy (and his spot) and having to miss out on the Red Stripe Bowl (the West Indies regional one-day tournament), through suspension.

A batsman of his undoubted class, he should rebound in a big way. St. David's sent three players to the recent Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka (under the `Americas' banner), and will be hoping that OJ Pitcher, Chris Foggo and Landro Minors turn their overseas experience into local match-winning performances and elevate their team from last year's `team to watch' to this year's `team to beat'.

St. George's Cricket Club always have a say in the championship and they proved last year that they can still win without Clay Smith, having won the Camel Cup back in May and by retaining the coveted Cup Match trophy. This match is celebrated by a two-day holiday, is the centrepiece of Bermuda's cricket calendar.

Bailey's Bay Cricket Club did not win any silverware last season (something their demanding fans won't easily forget). Under-19 Americas World Cup player Stephen Outerbridge will want to change that and impress early to hold on to his place in the senior squad and possibly debut in the Millennium Cup Match in early August.

With Eton College from England, and the Caymans Islands Under-15 team making tours to Bermuda, the cricket calendar should keep local fans very happy. The senior national team will be off to Toronto to play a series of 50 overs matches and of course, the end of season commitment to the Red Stripe Bowl.

A potential hiccup this summer may be scheduling, arising out of the progress of the national football team in World Cup qualifying. The Bermuda Cricket Board of Control has promised to suspend the cricket schedule to allow the island to focus totally on the `big' ball.

The annual AGM of the board will take place in March and it is expected that Government MP, El James will be returned to office as president for a third successive term.

1999 Bermuda Cricket Honours List:-