Red Stripe Bowl: Cayman Islands and United States strengthened; Caymans wants longer WI association

For the Cayman Islands Cricket Association, next week's hit out of its national team at the Red Stripe Bowl is more than just a chance to joust with first class opposition - it's possibly a taste of its future.

"I intend to ask the International Cricket Council whether it is possible for us to be Associate members of the ICC while being part of the West Indies Cricket Board of Control," CICA official and national coach, Theo Cuffy, said this week.

"We are West Indians, so it is a natural step," Cuffy explained. The Cayman Islands are making their Red Stripe Bowl debut and are drawn in Group B along with the Leeward Islands, Bermuda, Guyana and the Windward Islands.

Despite facing what is certain to be a better quality opposition, Cayman Islands captain, Michael Wight, is confident his team can improve on its showing in its debut appearance at the recent Americas Cup tournament in Canada.

"The wickets will be more like what we are used to. What let us down in Canada was the sideways movement of the ball," Wight said.

Wight said the team's batting, brittle in Canada, had been strengthened by the addition of players ruled out of the Americas Cup due to ICC eligibility qualifications.

He said cricket had taken off in the Cayman Islands since its encouraging Americas Cup performance. "We are finding it a lot easier to attract sponsors," Wight continued.

United States captain, Raymond Denny, said luring sponsors through a possible World Cup berth was the rationale behind the West Indian background of his team for next week's Red Stripe Bowl.

"The fact we are expats won't make a difference to the businessmen who will be drawn to the sport if we can qualify for the World Cup," Denny said. "They won't care what our background is - they will just know we are in the World Cup." The United States will contest Group A with Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and rivals Canada.

And it's match practice for next year's World Cup qualifiers, the ICC Trophy, which is what the Americans view as the main benefit of the Red Stripe Bowl tournament.

"Going into the past two ICC Trophies we hadn't played together enough," the Fort Lauderdale-based skipper said. "We have the talent - we need to learn how to work together as a team."

Like the Caymans, Denny said his squad would be boosted by availability of players.

"We are much stronger. Richard Staples, who has played for Jamaica, comes in and most of our players are all-rounders." Other additions are South African, Mark Johnson, and Steve Messiah, "a very promising batsman."

Would the United States adopt a different attitude to its Americas Cup campaign?

"Probably not to be in awe of the Test players and take each ball on its merits."