Bermuda's cricketers have drawn strength from the distraction of the Roland Butcher fiasco and now sit on the brink of success according to Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president El James.

And the opportunity to further steel this mental outlook arrives this weekend (Saturday and Sunday) when the local outfit commences a six match series against the renowned Marylebone Cricket Club of England.

MCC actually begin their tour schedule today with a match against reigning Premier Division champions Western Stars at St. John's Field (11 a.m.).

The tour marks the first time since last October's venture to the Red Stripe Bowl that the Bermuda team will have bowled, batted or fielded in earnest as a unit, and provides a final tune-up and gauge ahead of next month's ICC Trophy tournament in Canada.

"Unfortunately we've had some negatives that have cropped up during the period of their training, but now, hopefully, we can put those all behind and have each person focus on the job that he has to do and go out there and execute,'' said James.

"Our guys have put a lot of effort into training and preparing and this now gives them the opportunity to play against real opposition as a unit rather than in a league format for different club sides.

"MCC presents for them opposition that they are not quite aware of. There are some household names that have done well on the international stage and it's a chance for us to fine tune their skills and get ready for the ICC.

"The mental preparation, the `will to win', is what we're looking at really, and this is what we hope to get out of our guys during this time. The will to win and give their all ... 120 percent commitment from each person.'' James further noted how the players had rallied around staff coaches Winston Reid and Clevie Wade, the two constants among all the rubble of the Butcher saga, one which recently came to a close with the Englishman resigning the post after spending just three weeks instructing the team.

"Sometimes adversity brings the best out of individuals,'' said James. "And realising what has happened I feel that the guys have given renewed dedication to the two coaches because of what has happened, they appreciate them that much more and are now prepared to give these fellows 150 percent.

"The time is now for us to start identifying various tactical and technical aspects ahead of the tournament next month in Canada.

"We have a mature group of guys and I feel they're very much capable of doing that, just putting it behind them.'' Still, they are left to fulfil such on the pitch, and this promises to be no easy task against an MCC side boasting the likes of former West Indies Test opening batsman Philo Wallace and Zimbabwean allrounder Paul Strang, also with a number of Test and one-day international caps.

James admitted as much, but noted there to be no better method of gauging and being able to implement various tactical and technical strategies than under real game conditions. It will also provide opportunities to vet some of the Island's younger players in the ways of top-flight cricket, with some members of the under-19 squad to be included in the proceedings.

"They (MCC) have a lot of county players and players with English county cricket experience, and I would reckon it to still be the best county cricket in the world,'' said James. "So there are a lot of county cricketers in the squad that have made their mark and we're in for some good matches. They look good, at least on paper, and, on paper our guys also look good, so it should be interesting.

"We'll also be looking to give some of our under-19s the chance to go out there and test their skills against them, so it's a good period for us.

"I would just say to the public that we've weathered the storm, we've come through some rough seas. We didn't expect the appointment of the coach to take this long, however we've had to move on and I think we'll be stronger for it in the end, that's what life is all about.'' Below are pen pictures and brief details of members of the MCC tour party who open their two-week tour of Bermuda with a match against Western Stars at St.

John's Field today (11 a.m. start): Richard Luddington (manager) Born: London Age: 41 Role: R/H batsman/wicketkeeper Club: Teddington CC Colin Metson (captain) Born: Hertfordshire Age: 37 County: Middlesex (1981); Glamorgan (1987); Wales Minor Counties (2000) Club: Winchmore Hill CC Stephen Andrew Born: London Age: 35 Role: R/H batsman/right medium fast bowler County: Hampshire (1984); Essex (1990) David Goodson Born: Northamptonshire Age: 33 Role: R/H batsman/right medium bowler Club: Egerton Park CC Steve Marsh Born: London Age: 30 Role: R/H batsman County: Kent (Captain 1986-96) Country: England `A' Ian Hampshire Born: Yorkshire Age: 31 Role: R/H Batsman/left slow bowler Club: Welbeck CC Paul Atkins Born: Buckinghamshire Age: 34 Role: Top order batsman County: Surrey (1987) Club: High Wycombe CC Tim Kirk Born: Derbyshire Age: 32 Role: R/H batsman/right medium seam bowler Club: Chesterfield CC Robin Jones Born: Cheshire Age: 27 Role: R/H batsman/right off spin bowler Club: England U19; Cambridge University; Teddington Philo Wallace Born: Barbados Age: 30 Role: R/H batsman/right medium bowler Country: Barbados (captain); West Indies Club: Bib B Spartan CC; Sunderland CC John Harris (umpire) Born: Somerset Age: 65 Career: Appointed to first class umpires list in 1983; standby and third umpire in eight Tests Peter Heseltine (physio) Born: Yorkshire Age: 36 Role: R/H batsman/right off spin bowler County: Sussex (1987) OTHERS BAZID KHAN Born: Lahore Age: 20 Role: R/H batsman/right medium fast bowler Club: Lahore Cumichawa Country: Pakistan U15 and U19 DEON KRUIS Born: Pretoria Age: 27 Role: R/H batsman/right fast medium bowler State: Northern Transvaal; Griqualand West Club: Esher CC PAUL STRANG Born: Bulawayo Age: 30 Role: R/H batsman/right leg break bowler County: Kent, Mashonaland, Nottinghamshire, CFX Academy Country: Zimbabwe BEN OLIVER Born: Castlemaine, Victoria Age: 21 Role: R/h batsman/right fast medium bowler Province: Victoria Province Country: Australia Under-19 MCC TOUR SCHEDULE Today: Western Stars v MCC, St. John's Field, 11 a.m.

May 19: BCBC Select v MCC, Somerset Cricket Club, 11 a.m.

May 20: BCBC Select v MCC, White Hill Field, 11 a.m.

May 22: BCBC Select v MCC, Somerset Cricket Club, 11 a.m.

May 25: BCBC Select v MCC, Devonshire Rec., 11 a.m.

May 26: BCBC Select v MCC, St. David's Oval, 11 a.m.

May 27: BCBC Select v MCC, St. David's Oval, 11 a.m.