Respect is the key

We here in Ontario and Toronto especially, got to stop talking the talk and start walking the walk. Alberta, Manitoba and BC are three provinces actively developing the game to the best of their knowledge and resources and we here in Ontario must have a great deal of respect for that. I am suprised that U of A actually has a place for cricketers to train over there. We may have a greater talent pool, but what the hell are we doing over here to encourage youth to start playing the game. First of all we don't have a bloody school level platform for the game like these provinces. All we do is find a youth from god knows where and put him on a team and he either trains himself or adapts accordingly.

Brian Hale of TCA is one of the only persons involved with developing the game at the grassroots level here in Toronto, and he has produced some of the finest cricketers this country has ever seen. The people running the youth program right now are not even 10% as competent and qualified as Mr. Hale is. Yet they are still running the youth development in Ontario.

I would suggest to all Ontarians that even though we may beat the rest of the provinces in the Nationals coming up, we better not get too cocky. Because like the West Indies of old, we are producing class players, but we are not looking enough towards the future. Look where they are now.

We must respect provinces like Alberta, BC and Manitoba for what they are doing. Even though their standard may not be up to our First Division standard, we have to first and foremost respect them, because before you know it, they may end up making us look foolish.