Bermuda national cricket team

Infobox non test cricket team
country_name = Bermuda

---

image_caption = Flag of Bermuda
icc_member_year = 1966
icc_status = Associate with ODI status
icc_region = Americas
current_captain = Irving Romaine
WCL_division = One
regional_tournament = ICC Americas Championship
regional_tournament_division = One
first_match = March 1891 v Philadelphia Zingari
world_ranking = 16th
regional_ranking = 2nd
icc_trophy_apps = 8
icc_trophy_first = 1979
icc_trophy_best = Runners up, 1982
odi_matches = 22
odi_win_loss_record = 5/17
fc_matches = 9
fc_win_loss_record = 2/3
la_matches = 51
la_win_loss_record = 9/38
asofdate = 1 May 2007

The Bermudian cricket team is the team representing Bermuda in the sport of cricket, governed by the Bermuda Cricket Board. The Bermuda Cricket Board was elected to Associate Membership of the International Cricket Council, the global ruling body for the sport, in 1966. Having performed in all eight ICC World Cup Qualifiers (formerly the ICC Trophy), the one-day competition for associate and affiliate members of the ICC, their most notable achievements have been finishing runners up in the 1982 competition and, more recently, finishing fourth in the 2005 tournament - granting them qualification to their first World Cup in the 2007 tournament. They failed to proceed past the Group Stage, following three heavy defeats - including the largest defeat ever recorded in a World Cup match at the hands of India. [cite web|url=http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/WC/RESULTS/WC_MARGINS_HIGH.html|title=World Cups - Highest Win Margins|publisher=Cricinfo|accessdate=2007-05-01] The highlight of the Bermudian season is the annual Cup Match, played between two of the island's leading clubs of Somerset and St. George's, which was first played in 1902. The game is played in a carnival atmosphere over two public holidays.

History

Beginnings

The first recorded cricket match to take place in Bermuda occurred on 30 August 1844. The Bermuda Cricket Club was formed one year later and had support from locals as well as British troops. Some international games were played against American sides, principally from Philadelphia in the late 19th century, but the cricketing strength of the island diminished greatly after the First World War. Indeed, the only significant tour in the inter-War years was a five-match tour by a team led by Sir Julien Cahn in 1933.

Post Second World War

After the Second World War cricket regained popularity in Bermuda, and many tours arrived, including some Test sides on the way to the West Indies. The first Bermudian tour of England took place in 1960 and more tours followed. Bermuda also is the place where the first non-Yorkshireman played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Yorkshire traditionally had a rule that no-one born outside the county could play for them, a rule abandoned in the 1990s. However, the rule was bent to allow Garry Sobers to play some games for them under the captaincy of Brian Close during a festival match in Bermuda.

In 1966 Bermuda was elected to Associate Membership of the International Cricket Council. A match against New Zealand in 1972 was given first-class status. Since then they have competed in a wide range of international competitions including the ICC Trophy, a competition which was proposed by Alma Hunt, the Bermudian delegate to the ICC.

Present day

In 2004 and 2005 they competed in the ICC Intercontinental Cup, playing in the same group as Canada and the United States. In 2004, the first running of the competition, they were knocked out after losing to Canada and drawing against the Americans. In 2005, they won the American group after beating Canada and the Cayman Islands in Canada. However, the semi-final against Kenya in October was lost.

Bermuda's greatest cricketing moment came on 7 July 2005 when they qualified for the semi-finals of the 2005 ICC Trophy. Qualification for the Semi-Finals meant they won a place in the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies and that, from 1 January 2006 until the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier, they will have official One Day International status.

Bermuda's first international engagement of 2006 ended in disappointment, when they lost every game on a five-match tour of the UAE. It should be pointed out that the UAE team was much stronger than the one fielded at the 2005 ICC Trophy, as several players selected are not eligible for selection in ICC-sanctioned tournaments. In April 2006 they hosted and took part in a Twenty20 tournament called the World Cricket Classic.

Bermuda played their first One-Day International in May 2006, and were successful in their first outing, beating Canada at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad as part of a triangular series which also included Zimbabwe. This made them the fourth team to win their first ODI, after Australia, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. However, Bermuda lost their second ODI, against Zimbabwe by 194 runs having conceded 338 for seven. They went on to lose the final, again against Zimbabwe.

In July 2006, they took part in the Stanford 20/20 knock-out tournament, but lost to Jamaica. They were given $100,000 for participating in the event. The following month they toured Canada, playing a four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup game and two ODIs. They lost the Intercontinental Cup game by nine wickets in a match that went into the final hour, but won both of the two ODIs. They are due to play Kenya and the Netherlands in their other Intercontinental Cup matches later that year.

Also in August, they played in Division One of the ICC Americas Championship and went on to win the tournament for the first time, without losing a game.

In November they visited Kenya for an Intercontinental Cup match and three ODIs. They drew the Intercontinental Cup match in a rain-affected game, and lost all three ODIs. They then went to South Africa, starting with an Intercontinental Cup game against the Netherlands. This was drawn, but highlighted by a record breaking innings from Glamorgan batsman David Hemp who scored 247 not out, the highest score in the history of the competition.

This was followed by a triangular series against Canada and the Netherlands. They lost the first three games, but beat the Netherlands in the final, low-scoring game.

Cricket in 2007

At the end of January, Bermuda travelled to Kenya for the Division One tournament of the ICC World Cricket League. They lost 4 out of their 5 games: a 10 wicket loss to eventual champions Kenya, [cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/worldcricketleague/engine/match/267379.html|title=2007 ICC World Cricket League Division One: 1st Match: Kenya v Bermuda at Nairobi (Jaff), scorecard from Cricinfo|date=2007-01-29|accessdate=2007-05-01] a 4 wicket loss to Ireland, [cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/worldcricketleague/engine/match/267382.html|title=2007 ICC World Cricket League Division One: 4th Match: Bermuda v Ireland at Nairobi (Jaff)|publisher=Cricinfo|date=2007-01-31|accessdate=2007-05-01] losing by 56 runs to Canada (being bowled out inside just 16 overs) [cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/worldcricketleague/engine/match/267386.html|title=2007 ICC World Cricket League Division One: 7th Match: Bermuda v Canada at Nairobi (Gym)|publisher=Cricinfo|date=2007-02-02|accessdate=2007-05-01] and losing by 8 wickets to the Netherlands; [cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/worldcricketleague/engine/match/267387.html|title=2007 ICC World Cricket League Division One: 10th Match: Bermuda v Netherlands at Nairobi (Ruaraka)|publisher=Cricinfo|date=2007-02-04|accessdate=2007-05-01] their only win coming against Scotland by 5 wickets. [cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/worldcricketleague/engine/match/267390.html|title=2007 ICC World Cricket League Division One: 13th Match: Bermuda v Scotland at Nairobi (Ruaraka)|publisher=Cricinfo|date=2007-02-05|accessdate=2007-05-01] They finished bottom of the group, behind Ireland on net run rate (Bermuda with -1.310, Ireland with -0.061). [cite web|url=http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2006-07/OD_TOURNEYS/WCL-DIV1/WCL-DIV1_2006-07_TABLE.html|title=ICC World Cricket League - Points Table|publisher=Cricinfo|accessdate=2007-05-01]

This was followed by a triangular series, played at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St. John's, Antigua, which saw Bermuda play Bangladesh and Canada. Their opening match was against Bangladesh where they posted 205/8 in their 50 overs, Lionel Cann top scoring with 33 off just 23 balls, however Bangladeshi opener Shahriar Nafees quickly silenced any thought of Bermuda pulling off a win, posting 104 not out and guiding Bangladesh home to an 8 wicket win. [cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/triseries-wi/engine/match/274777.html|title=Triangular Series in West Indies: 1st Match: Bangladesh v Bermuda at St John's|publisher=Cricinfo|date=2007-02-25|accessdate=2007-05-01]
After winning the toss and deciding to bat against Canada, Bermuda scored 206/8 from their 50 overs: an innings that was saved from collapse in large due to the partnerships between captain Irving Romaine and Saleem Mukuddem, for 57, as well as Lionel Cann and Delyone Borden, for 38. Cann top scored for Bermuda again, this time for 42 - notably off just 25 balls, including five sixes. Come the Canadian innings, opener Abdool Samad took to the crease in similar fashion to Nafees the day before. His 83 from 86 took Canada to 135/3, and well on the way to victory. Delyone Borden's spin bowling brought them back in to the game - taking 4 wickets for just 33 runs, and reducing Canada to 179/6; but the tail end of Canada's batting order got them the 207 runs they required - with 6 overs to spare and losing just 1 more wicket - to finish on 207/7. [cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/triseries-wi/engine/match/274778.html|title=Triangular Series in West Indies: 2nd Match: Bermuda v Canada at St John's|publisher=Cricinfo|date=2007-02-26|accessdate=2007-05-01]

On 5 March Bermuda played England in St. Vincent. England were at 286-8 after the 50 overs thanks to a quick 76 by Jamie Dalrymple and with Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen scoring 46 and 43 respectively. The Bermudian innings came to a close after just 22.2 overs with England claiming all 10 wickets with just 45 runs on the scorecard, with the highest runner getting 11. Jon Lewis claimed 3 wickets with James Anderson and Andrew Flintoff both getting 2. [cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/bermuda/engine/match/247442.html|title=2007 World Cup Warm-up Match: Bermuda v England at Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent|publisher=Cricinfo|date=2007-03-05|accessdate=2007-05-01]

Their second warm-up match was against Zimbabwe, also in St. Vincent. Bermuda won the toss and chose to bat, but soon started losing wickets. Janeiro Tucker scored 56, but was one of only 4 players to reach double figures before Bermuda were bowled out on the last ball of their innings for 136. Zimbabwe lost 2 wickets inside the first three overs, but Sean Williams top scored with 72 not out to reach their target of 137 in just 29 overs, losing just 4 wickets on the way. [cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/bermuda/engine/match/247450.html|title=2007 World Cup Warm-up Match: Bermuda v Zimbabwe at Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent|publisher=Cricinfo|date=2007-03-08|accessdate=2007-05-01]

Bermuda's first appearance in the World Cup was marked with 3 heavy defeats, having been drawn with Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh. In their opening game they posted a meager 78 all out, chasing Sri Lanka's 321/6. [cite web|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/worldcup2007/engine/match/247460.html|title=4th Match, Group B: Bermuda v Sri Lanka at Port of Spain|publisher=Cricinfo|date=2007-03-15|accessdate=2007-05-01]

In their second game against India they struggled with the ball and India posted the highest total in World Cup history: 413/5. In response, David Hemp posted the maiden Bermudian half century in World Cup cricket with 78 not out. However, besides Hemp, the batsmen also struggled: the second highest scorer was Dean Minors with 21, and 5 of the 11 players were out for ducks. [cite web|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/worldcup2007/engine/match/247468.html|title=12th Match, Group B: Bermuda v India at Port of Spain|publisher=Cricinfo|date=2007-03-19|accessdate=2007-05-01]

Their final game, against Bangladesh, was hit heavily by rain: after originally being reduced to 41 overs a side it was ultimately decided that a maximum of 21 overs each could be played. Bermuda posted 94/9 in that time, with David Hemp top scoring again (with 23); but Bangladesh reached 96 in 17.3 overs, despite losing 3 quick wickets. [cite web|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/worldcup2007/engine/match/247480.html|title=24th Match, Group B: Bangladesh v Bermuda at Port of Spain|publisher=Cricinfo|date=2007-03-21|accessdate=2007-05-01]

August will see them play Ireland and the Netherlands in the 2007-08 ICC Intercontinental Cup, as well as an ODI series against the Netherlands. Between October and November they will play the remainder of their Intercontinental Cup matches, against Kenya and the United Arab Emirates, as well as an ODI series against both nations. [cite web|url=http://www.cricketeurope4.net/BERMUDA/GENERAL/calendar.shtml|title=Bermuda Cricket Calendar|publisher=CricketEurope4.net|accessdate=2007-05-01]

Current Squad

The latest Bermudian cricket squad was announced in preparation for the 2007 Cricket World Cup. [cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/story/280199.html|title=Few surprises in Bermuda squad|publisher=Cricinfo|date=2007-02-13|accessdate=2007-05-01] No changes were made from the announced squad and the squad which travelled to the West Indies.

ICC Trophy

*Highest team total: 407/8 v Hong Kong, 13 June 1986 at Nuneaton, England
*Highest individual score: 132, Janeiro Tucker v the USA, 7 July 1995 at Waringstown, Northern Ireland
*Best innings bowling: 6/38, A Edwards v Fiji, 11 June 1986 at Wellington Cricket Club, England

ee also

*Bermuda national women's cricket team
*Bermudian national cricket captains

References

External links

* [http://www.bermudacricketboard.com Official website - Online schedule, Statistics]
* [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/ICC_MEMBERS/BMDA/ Cricinfo page on Bermuda]
* [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Countries/6.html CricketArchive index page for Bermuda]