ICC Under19 Cricket World Cup Teams & Groups

Bermuda Team Profile

Bermuda U/19s have been supported by some of the biggest names in world cricket in their efforts to make the players ready for the tournament, with support from the likes of Sir Viv Richards, Sir Garfield Sobers, Wes Hall, Charlie Griffin, Bernard Julien, Curtley Ambrose and Derrick Murray, as well as spending 11 days at the World Cricket Academy in India.

The team played in the first half of the country's Premier Division League and finished with a record of three wins and five defeats. They also appeared in the Sir Garfield Sobers Tournament in July 2007 and finished with a 6-2 winning record, and then performed excellently at the Americas qualifying event to qualify for their first ever ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup.

They secured their position at the tournament with a 13-run win over Canada, with Malachi Jones producing a man-of-the-match performance when he scored 33 and took 3-37.

The side, who have been training five times a week in preparation for the event, will be coached by Arnold Manders, who is Director of Cricket Development for the Bermuda Cricket Board, and he will be leaning heavily on those squad members who have already represented their side at the international level, including some at last year's senior ICC Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean, will be key players.

Manders said: "The key players for our team are those who have already represented the senior team Rodney Trott, Malachi Jones, Tamauri Tucker and Chris Douglas. With the exception of Tamauri, the rest are all genuine all-rounders and the bulk of our runs and wickets will come from them. These players are the catalyst of our team and how we progress in the tournament will depend heavily on how successful they are. The younger players will be looking for guidance and support from them as well."

And Manders believes this event is vitally important for the development of Bermudan cricket.

He added: "This event is a good experience for future international cricketers because it will provide them with a feel of what it would be like to be an international player with the traveling, playing in a foreign country, experiencing a different culture, climate and playing conditions.

"We expect to be competitive in every match and have set a goal for ourselves to make the Super Eight and to be the best Associate member in the Tournament."