Cleon Scotland on the latest off-season news from Bermuda

Bermuda's hopes of qualifying for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa received a massive boost with the recent recommendation of the Executive Board of the ICC to grant Bangladesh and Kenya automatic entry and increasing the participating teams from 12 to 14.

The International Cricket Council will consider the proposal at its annual meeting in June.

Bermuda placed ninth at the ICC Tournament in Malaysia in 1997 and fourth in Kenya in 1994.

Former West Indies Test bowler, Ian Bishop, visited the island recently to promote "windball" cricket. It's a fun, short version of the game played with a soft ball. Insurance company, British American, sponsored his appearance.

The Bermuda Testimonial Committee presented the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control with a bowling machine for use with its junior and senior programmes.

The Committee organizes an annual cricket match (featuring an international cricketer), to honour Bermuda's cricket greats of yesteryear. Phil Simmons, Ian Bishop, Gus Logie, Phil Defreitas and Joel Garner are past invitees.

Bermuda's cricket development programme moved forward in early March when Willie Bourne of Barbados, conducted a four-day cricket course to assist local coaches at both the senior and junior level. The ICC Regional Development Office has a mandate to upgrade the standard of coaching.