Logie slams uncommitted Bermuda

Bermuda are their worst enemies, and unless they drastically alter their approach to the game, their future at the highest level appears limited at best. That is the damning verdict of their West Indian coach, Gus Logie, as Bermuda were swept aside in the tri-series against Canada and West Indies.

"At the end of the day if we don't learn from our mistakes we are not going to grow and whatever growth we do have will always come to nothing if we continue to make the same mistakes over and over," Logie told The Royal Gazette. "If we want to compete and win at this level we can't afford to make the same mistakes such as getting out the same way over and over, which tells me that we are not assessing situations as well as we could. There are areas where we feel players still need to put in more effort into their own game and understand it is a team game and not an individual game.

"Whatever the team requires they must be prepared to do that, that's what being a mature individual is all about.

"I think we are maturing, but doing so very slowly. I believe if our guys put a bit more planning and commitment into their cricket they will succeed. But at the end of the day we still have certain things to work on and players must be willing to work because it's not just going to happen by saying it - you have to put in the work."

Bermuda have lost both their matches in the tri-series, Canada beating them by 25 runs before West Indies breezed past without so much as breaking sweat. It is not all depressing news, however. The one bright spot has been the performances of their 18-year-old batsman, Chris Douglas, who outshone his more experienced team-mates with back-to-back cultured fifties.

"Chris showed the amount of talent, courage and will to succeed at this level while in the bowling department young Kelly (Stefan) held his own and continues to be a force to be reckoned with at this level," Logie said.

So impressive was Douglas that he has drawn favourable praise from Ramnaresh Sarwan, the West Indies captain.

"Generally I thought he played very well and was very patient which is a good sign to see and hopefully he can go onto to do better things for Bermuda," Sarwan said. "I thought he picked the bowlers and waited on the right balls to hit where he knew he was strong."

But for all the encouragement that an 18-year-old has brought to Bermuda's fledgling fortunes, Logie laments the performance of his more experienced troops.

"The experienced players didn't put their hands up and perform as they could ¿ and they knew who they are," he said. "We had young and inexperienced players performing at a level beyond their maturity and then players that have been involved at this level for a number of years who didn't produce when it really mattered."