KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, CMC – National coach Clay Smith has said he wants to keep his job despite Bermuda’s demoralising relegation to ICC World Cricket League’s Division Five here after winning only one of their five matches.
“I have considered my position and it’s plain and simple,” he told Bermuda’s Royal Gazette newspaper after an 89-run defeat by Malaysia con signed Bermuda to last place in the six-team tournament. Vanuatu were also relegated. “Quitters never win and winners never quit. Anybody that knows me knows that I am a winner. I am a fighter. I don’t give up. “However, at the end of the day the Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) is the one to decide my fate, not me. I coach because I love the game and if they see fit to make a change, then fine, I wish them the best.
“I will always coach cricket because I love what I do. It is my passion and I, like everybody else, just want to see Bermuda successful again.”
Allan Douglas, as an interim coach the last time Bermuda played in Malaysia four years ago, was summarily sacked by the Bermuda Cricket Board executive on his return.
Bermuda cricket has been in the doldrums since former West Indies Test star Gus Logie, as national coach, steered the team to the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.
Smith, a 47-year-old former national team player, added: “It’s a sad day for Bermuda cricket, but all is not lost.
“We just have to regroup and make sure that next time our preparation and planning are a lot better. Oman came from Division Five to Division Two in a matter of two years.
“There is not much separating teams from Division Two to Four. The question is how bad do we want it and what are we willing to sacrifice to get it?”
Injury-hit Bermuda went into Sunday’s replay against Malaysia – after rain ruined the previous day’s match – without former captain Stephen Outerbridge, who had to fly home early because of work commitments, and Jacobi Robinson, who earlier broke a hand. Kamau Leverock, who sprained an ankle during Saturday’s aborted game, had to bat low down the order after spending most of the replay off the field.
In the event, he came in at number eight and added 97 with Janeiro Tucker, 43, who was suffering badly from cramp in likely his farewell match for the country.
Their seventh-wicket stand – after the side had plunged to 37 for six – gave the Bermuda total an air of respectability, and denied Malaysia a promotion spot with leaders Uganda, Denmark going up instead by virtue of a better net run rate.
Bermuda closed on 168 for nine in reply to the hosts’ 257 for eight.
