Bermuda national cricket team explained

Bermuda
Nickname:Gombey Warriors
Association:Bermuda Cricket Board
Coach:Niraj Odedra[1]
Captain:Delray Rawlins
Icc Status:Associate member
Icc Member Year:1966
Icc Region:Americas
First Odi:v at the Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain; 17 May 2006
Most Recent Odi:v at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom; 8 April 2009
Num Odis:35
Odi Record:7/28
(0 ties, 0 no results)
Wc Apps:1
Wc First:2007
Wc Best:First round (2007)
Wcq Apps:8
Wcq First:1979
Wcq Best:Runner-up (1982)
First T20i:v at Stormont, Belfast; 3 August 2008
Most Recent T20i:v at Bermuda National Stadium, Hamilton; 7 October 2023
Num T20is:32
Num T20is This Year:0
T20i Record:18/13
(0 ties, 1 no result)
T20i Record This Year:0/0
(0 ties, 0 no results)
T20i Rank:29th
T20i Rank Best:29th (30 September 2023)[2]
Wt20q Apps:5
Wt20q First:2008
Wt20q Best:Runners-up (2023)
A Pattern B:_bermuda_t20
A Leftarm:190c82ff
A Body:ff409cff
A Rightarm:190c82ff
A Pants:000038ff
A Title:T20I kit
Asofdate:1 January 2024

The Bermuda men's national cricket team represents the British overseas territory of Bermuda in international cricket. The team is organised by the Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB), which became an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1966.

A Bermudian national team was first organised in 1891, when a tour of New York City was arranged. In the years before World War I, Bermuda and American teams (including the Philadelphians) frequently exchanged tours, although it was not until 1912, when Australia toured, that the national team played a full international. After the 1920s, the focus of Bermudian cricket moved away from the United States towards the countries of the West Indies, although frequent tours from West Indian teams began only in the 1950s.[3] The national team also played matches against international teams travelling to and from tours of the West Indies. However, only one of these games, against New Zealand in 1972, held first-class status.[4]

The ICC Trophy (now the World Cup Qualifier) commenced in 1979 as the first World Cup qualifying tournament for ICC associate members. Bermuda made the semi-finals that year, and at the 1982 edition made the final, losing to Zimbabwe. However, the side did not qualify for the World Cup, as it featured only one associate qualifier. By the time of the 2005 ICC Trophy, the number of associate qualifiers had been increased to six. By making the semi-finals that year, Bermuda qualified for the 2007 World Cup, becoming the smallest country to do so (both in terms of population and area). The team also received One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) status until 2009. However, Bermuda performed poorly both at the World Cup and in subsequent ODI series, and after the 2009 World Cup Qualifier was relegated to the 2011 World Cricket League Division Two tournament. The team has since dropped three more divisions.

In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Bermuda and other ICC members after 1 January 2019 have the full T20I status.[5] Later in 2019, Bermuda played in the 2019–21 ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League.[6]

In 2023 they played, the regional finals of Americas Qualifier for 2024 T20 World Cup, where they had equal points with Canada but on the basis of NRR (Net Run Rate) Canada qualified. Bermuda player Kamau Leverock was player of the series of that tournament.

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 April 1972 was given first-class status.[7] [8] 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.

21st century

Rise, ODI status and the 2005 ICC Trophy (2004–2006)

In 2003 and 2004 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 had official One Day International status.

Rapid decline and the 2007 Cricket World Cup (2006–2007)

Bermuda's first international engagement of 2006 ended in disappointment, when they lost every game on a five-match tour of the UAE. 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.

At the end of January 2007, 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,[9] a 4 wicket loss to Ireland,[10] losing by 56 runs to Canada (being bowled out inside just 16 overs)[11] and losing by 8 wickets to the Netherlands;[12] their only win coming against Scotland by 5 wickets.[13] They finished bottom of the group, behind Ireland on net run rate (Bermuda with −1.310, Ireland with −0.061).[14]

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.[15]
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 into 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.[16]

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.[17]

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.[18]

After more than a year of unconvincing defeats, Bermuda's first appearance in the World Cup was unsurprisingly 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.[19]

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 76 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.[20]

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.[21]

August saw them lose to Ireland and the Netherlands by huge margins in the 2007–08 ICC Intercontinental Cup, as well as an ODI series against the Netherlands. Between October and November they played the remainder of their Intercontinental Cup matches, against Kenya and the United Arab Emirates, as well as an ODI series against both nations. They finished last in the tournament.[22]

Further decline and absolute collapse (2009–present)

The team then took part in 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier where they finished 9th, and were relegated to 2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Two and qualified for 2009-10 ICC Intercontinental Shield. They lost heavily in the Intercontinental Shield.

Bermuda finished last in the 2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Two, thus relegating them to 2013 ICC World Cricket League Division Three. In April 2013 Bermuda hosted the 2013 ICC World Cricket League Division Three in which they came 4th. At the 2013 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier Bermuda finished 14th with wins over Denmark and a surprise win over Scotland, with outstanding bowling from Jacobi Robinson. In the 2014 ICC World Cricket League Division Three, Bermuda capitulated against all teams, managing one win against Malaysia. They ended up coming last, thus relegating them to the 2016 ICC World Cricket League Division Four. In the space of less than six years, Bermuda went from being in the ICC World Cup Qualifier Division, to Division Four.

Bermuda progressed from 2018-19 Americas southern sub region qualifier to Regionals Finals in 2018.

Tournament history

Cricket World Cup

See main article: Bermuda at the Cricket World Cup.

ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier

6th/6

DNQ

13th/16

14th/16

DNQ

13th/14

ICC World Twenty20 Americas Qualifier

3rd/6 (Q)

2nd/5 (Q)

3rd/4

2nd/4 (Q)

3rd/7

World Cricket League

6th place

6th place – relegated

4th place

6th place – relegated

4th place

6th place – relegated

ICC Intercontinental Cup

First round[23]

Semi-finals[24]

First round[25]

Last place (8th)

Last place (4th)

World Cup Qualifier

Semi-finals[26]

Runners up[27]

4th place[28]

Plate competition[29]

4th place[30]

Won Plate competition (9th place)[31]

9th place[32]

4th place[33]

9th place

Did not qualify

Did not qualify

ICC Americas Championship

2nd place (Division One)

Players

Squad for Oman ODI Series 1–13 December 2019[38]

Records and statistics

International Match Summary – Bermuda[39] [40]

Last updated 7 October 2023.

Playing Record
Format M W L T D/NR Inaugural Match
One Day Internationals 35 7 28 0 0 17 May 2006
Twenty20 Internationals 32 18 13 0 1 3 August 2008

One Day Internationals

Most ODI runs for Bermuda[44]

PlayerRunsAverageCareer span
Irving Romaine783 25.25 2006–2009
David Hemp641 33.73 2006–2009
590 26.81 2006–2009
Janeiro Tucker496 19.84 2006–2009
478 26.55 2006–2007

Most ODI wickets for Bermuda[45]

PlayerWicketsAverageCareer span
34 33.02 2006–2009
23 32.69 2006–2007
23 36.13 2006–2007
16 25.75 2007–2009
15 26.13 2006–2008

Highest individual innings in ODI[46]

PlayerScoreOppositionVenueYear
102* 2009
101 2006
85* 2007
81 2009
76* 2007

Best bowling figures in an innings in ODI[47]

PlayerScoreOppositionVenueYear
5/53 2006
4/30 2007
4/40 2006
4/45 2006
4/46 2007

ODI record versus other nations[39]

Opponent M W L T NR First Match First win
vs Test nations
2 0 2 0 0 25 February 2007
1 0 1 0 0 19 March 2007
1 0 1 0 0 31 January 2007
1 0 1 0 0 15 March 2007
1 0 1 0 0 20 August 2008
2 0 2 0 0 18 May 2006
vs Associate Members
11 5 6 0 0 17 May 2006 17 May 2006
8 0 8 0 0 11 November 2006
7 1 6 0 0 28 November 2006 2 December 2006
1 1 0 0 0 5 February 2007 5 February 2007

Twenty20 Internationals

Most T20I runs for Bermuda[51]

PlayerRunsAverageCareer span
842 33.68 2019–2023
776 35.27 2019–2023
516 34.40 2021–2023
416 23.11 2019–2023
216 13.50 2019–2023

Most T20I wickets for Bermuda[52]

PlayerWicketsAverageCareer span
32 17.71 2019–2023
25 21.00 2019–2023
22 12.00 2019–2023
18 10.72 2019–2023
17 22.82 2019–2021

T20I record versus other nations[40]

Records complete to T20I #2304. Last updated 7 October 2023.

Opponent M W L T NR First Match First win
vs ICC Full Members
1 0 1 0 0 3 August 2008
vs Associate Members
4 4 0 0 0 14 November 2021 14 November 2021
2 2 0 0 0 10 November 2021 10 November 2021
1 1 0 0 0 13 November 2021 13 November 2021
6 1 4 0 1 5 August 2008 30 September 2023
4 4 0 0 0 21 August 2019 21 August 2019
1 0 1 0 0 21 October 2019
1 0 1 0 0 23 October 2019
1 0 1 0 0 26 October 2019
4 4 0 0 0 11 November 2021 11 November 2021
1 0 1 0 0 19 October 2019
2 0 2 0 0 3 August 2008
1 0 1 0 0 20 October 2019
3 2 1 0 0 18 August 2019 18 August 2019

Coaching staff

Niraj Odedra was appointed head coach of Bermuda in June 2022, replacing interim coach Cal Waldron.[53]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Indian Niraj Odedra appointed Bermuda coach on short-term deal. Sam. Murley. 29 June 2022. The Royal Gazette. 26 January 2023.
  2. Web site: ICC unveils Global Men's T20I Rankings Table featuring 80 teams. International Cricket Council. 23 August 2019.
  3. https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Teams/0/46/Other_Matches.html Other matches played by Bermuda
  4. https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Teams/0/46/First-Class_Matches.html First-class matches played by Bermuda
  5. Web site: All T20 matches between ICC members to get international status. International Cricket Council. 26 April 2018. 1 September 2018.
  6. Web site: All to play for in last ever World Cricket League tournament . International Cricket Council . 11 April 2019.
  7. Web site: Bermuda's maiden First-class match . Emerging Cricket . 14 April 2020 . 17 April 2020.
  8. Web site: New Zealand in Bermuda, 1971/72: Bermuda v New Zealanders . Cricinfo . 17 April 2020.
  9. Web site: 2007 ICC World Cricket League Division One: 1st Match: Kenya v Bermuda at Nairobi (Jaff), scorecard from Cricinfo. 29 January 2007. 1 May 2007.
  10. Web site: 2007 ICC World Cricket League Division One: 4th Match: Bermuda v Ireland at Nairobi (Jaff). Cricinfo. 31 January 2007. 1 May 2007.
  11. Web site: 2007 ICC World Cricket League Division One: 7th Match: Bermuda v Canada at Nairobi (Gym). Cricinfo. 2 February 2007. 1 May 2007.
  12. Web site: 2007 ICC World Cricket League Division One: 10th Match: Bermuda v Netherlands at Nairobi (Ruaraka). Cricinfo. 4 February 2007. 1 May 2007.
  13. Web site: 2007 ICC World Cricket League Division One: 13th Match: Bermuda v Scotland at Nairobi (Ruaraka). Cricinfo. 5 February 2007. 1 May 2007.
  14. Web site: ICC World Cricket League – Points Table. Cricinfo. 1 May 2007.
  15. Web site: Triangular Series in West Indies: 1st Match: Bangladesh v Bermuda at St John's. Cricinfo. 25 February 2007. 1 May 2007.
  16. Web site: Triangular Series in West Indies: 2nd Match: Bermuda v Canada at St John's. Cricinfo. 26 February 2007. 1 May 2007.
  17. Web site: 2007 World Cup Warm-up Match: Bermuda v England at Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent. Cricinfo. 5 March 2007. 1 May 2007.
  18. Web site: 2007 World Cup Warm-up Match: Bermuda v Zimbabwe at Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent. Cricinfo. 8 March 2007. 1 May 2007.
  19. Web site: 4th Match, Group B: Bermuda v Sri Lanka at Port of Spain. Cricinfo. 15 March 2007. 1 May 2007.
  20. Web site: 12th Match, Group B: Bermuda v India at Port of Spain. Cricinfo. 19 March 2007. 1 May 2007.
  21. Web site: 24th Match, Group B: Bangladesh v Bermuda at Port of Spain. Cricinfo. 21 March 2007. 1 May 2007.
  22. Web site: Bermuda Cricket Calendar. https://archive.today/20070420130105/http://www.cricketeurope4.net/BERMUDA/GENERAL/calendar.shtml. dead. 20 April 2007. CricketEurope4.net. 1 May 2007.
  23. Web site: ICC Intercontinental Cup 2004 – Points Table. Cricinfo. 1 May 2007.
  24. Web site: 1st Semi-final: Bermuda v Kenya at Windhoek (United). Cricinfo. 25 October 2005. 1 May 2007.
  25. Web site: ICC Intercontinental Cup 2006 – Points Table. Cricinfo. 1 May 2007.
  26. Web site: Bermuda vs Canada, ICC Trophy '79 Semi-final. Cricinfo. 6 June 1979. 1 May 2007.
  27. Web site: Bermuda vs Zimbabwe, ICC Trophy '82 inal. Cricinfo. 10 July 1982. 1 May 2007.
  28. Web site: Bermuda vs Denmark, ICC Trophy '86 Consolation (3rd place) Final. Cricinfo. 4 July 1986. 10 April 2007.
  29. Web site: ICC Trophy in the Netherlands, Jun 1990 – Points Table. Cricinfo. 1 May 2007.
  30. Web site: 3rd Place Playoff: Netherlands v Bermuda at Simba Union. Cricinfo. 5 March 1994. 1 May 2007.
  31. Web site: Bermuda v UAE, ICC Trophy '97 Plate Final (playoff,) Kelab Aman. Cricinfo. 5 April 1997. 1 May 2007.
  32. Web site: ICC Trophy 2001 Playoff: Bermuda v Namibia at Toronto (Maple NE). Cricinfo. 7 July 2001. 1 May 2007.
  33. Web site: ICC Trophy 2005 3rd Place Playoff: Bermuda v Canada at Dublin (Malahide). Cricinfo. 11 July 2005. 1 May 2007.
  34. Web site: Americas Cup in Canada, 2000 – Points Table. Cricinfo. 1 May 2007.
  35. Web site: Americas Cup in Argentina, 2002 – Points Table. Cricinfo. 1 May 2007.
  36. Web site: Americas Cup in Bermuda, 2004 – Points Table. https://archive.today/20120717194238/http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004/OTHERS/AMERICAS-CC/table.html. dead. 17 July 2012. Cricinfo. 1 May 2007.
  37. Web site: Americas Cup, Division One, in Canada, 2006 – Points Table. Cricinfo. 1 May 2007.
  38. Web site: IslandStats.com - Bermuda Sports Online. www.islandstats.com. 2020-03-03.
  39. Web site: Bermuda – One Day Internationals . ESPNcricinfo . 16 July 2018.
  40. Web site: Bermuda – Twenty20 Internationals . ESPNcricinfo . 16 July 2018.
  41. Web site: Records / Bermuda / One-Day Internationals / Highest totals . ESPNcricinfo. 28 May 2019.
  42. Web site: Records / Bermuda / One-Day Internationals / High scores. 28 May 2019.
  43. Web site: Records / Bermuda / One-Day Internationals / Best bowling figures . 28 May 2019.
  44. Web site: Records / Bermuda / One-Day Internationals / Most runs . . 23 August 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140910002408/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?class=2%3Bid%3D12%3Btype%3Dteam . 10 September 2014 . dmy-all .
  45. Web site: Records / Bermuda / One-Day Internationals / Most wickets . . 23 August 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140910002331/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?class=2%3Bid%3D12%3Btype%3Dteam . 10 September 2014 . dmy-all .
  46. Web site: Records / Bermuda / One-Day Internationals / Highest Scores . Cricinfo.
  47. Web site: Records / Bermuda / One-Day Internationals / Best bowling figures . Cricinfo.
  48. Web site: Records / Bermuda / Twenty20 Internationals / Highest totals . . 22 May 2019.
  49. Web site: Records / Bermuda / Twenty20 Internationals / High scores . . 26 May 2019.
  50. Web site: Records / Bermuda / Twenty20 Internationals / Best bowling figures . . 26 May 2019.
  51. Web site: Records / Bermuda / Twenty20 Internationals / Most runs . . 29 May 2019.
  52. Web site: Records / Bermuda / Twenty20 Internationals / Most wickets . . 29 May 2019.
  53. News: Indian Niraj Odedra appointed Bermuda coach on short-term deal. Sam. Murley. 29 June 2022. The Royal Gazette. 26 January 2023.