The Bermuda Under-23s revived hopes of victory by a local team against the Jamaicans with a determined performance on Tuesday at Southampton Oval that has injected new enthusiasm into the tour.

And with three of the strongest teams yet to meet the tourists, there are high expectations going into the fourth match today at White Hill field which involves league champions Western Stars.

Granted, the Jamaicans were without their two most senior players, captain Delroy Morgan and Wayne Lewis, for Tuesday's match but a weakened youth team showed what could be accomplished with a positive attitude.

"There is no doubt in my mind we will win one of the six matches,'' said BCBC president Ed Bailey after watching the Under-23s fight back bravely against the Jamaicans before losing by 40 runs. It was the closest Jamaica have come to losing in Bermuda, against what was probably the weakest team they have faced so far.

Each of the three teams to meet the Jamaicans have had to draft in players because of unavailability and even Stars may not be at full strength today because of work commitments.

"I would liked to have seen a squad of 36 called into action and that should have been done three weeks ago,'' said Bailey of the unavailability of players in the BCBC select teams.

"That was a serious mistake and an oversight by someone. It will be corrected. The board accepts the responsibility. What we will do with the squad in the future is have 36 players.'' The tour is intended to serve three purposes, to foster good bonds between Bermuda and Jamaica cricket, to assure the public sees a high standard of cricket and that the players gain from the experience.

So far the bright spot has been the performance of teenager Kameron Fox who claimed six for 39 on Tuesday after being one of the four players included at the last moment.

His achievement earned him both a spot in the Bermuda squad for Sunday's match and high praise from the board president after the match.

"The Jamaicans felt threatened throughout the match,'' said Bailey. "They realise the next three matches are not going to be easy.

"If we can consider today's match as the competitive start of the tour we will see some good cricket for the rest of the week.'' Bailey singled out captain Clay Smith, Hasan Durham, Kwame Tucker and Del Hollis for praise.

"The board is very pleased with what the players did and we hope to see more of this in the next three games,'' said Bailey. "I certainly see, with the correct attitude and abilty, that he (Fox) will be a good player for Bermuda in the near future.

"With another three matches you will see some very good cricket, while the object is to gain something from them.'' Albert Steede will captain the Bermuda team which contains six changes from the national team which played the Australians in May. Missing are Olin Jones, Richard Basden, Graham Fox, Arnold Manders, Anthony Manders and Clarkie Trott, while also absent are youngsters Glenn Smith and Dean Minors who are still in England. Minors' absence means that either Steede or Ricky Hill will take over the wicket-keeping duties.

Hill will open the batting with the returning Wendell Smith and the other four batsmen in the first six are likely to be Steede, Clay Smith, Charlie Marshall and Jeff Richardson. Lionel Cann will probably bat in the allrounder's position at number seven, with two spinners from David Adams, Bruce Perinchief, Del Hollis, Hasan Durham and Kameron Fox joining a bowling attack led by Roger Blades and Allan Brangman.

Bermuda 14: Albert Steede (captain), Ricky Hill, Wendell Smith, Charlie Marshall, Jeff Richardson, Clay Smith, Lionel Cann, Bruce Perinchief, David Adams, Roger Blades, Allan Brangman, Del Hollis, Hasan Durham, Kameron Fox.

Anyone unavailable should contact the BCBC office at 292-8958.

St. George's (to play against Jamaica at Wellington Oval on Saturday) : Graham Fox (captain), Clevie Wade, Wendell Smith, Clay Smith, Charlie Marshall, Arnold Manders, Lionel Cann, Dale Fox, Eugene Foggo, David Adams, Cleon Scotland. Reserves: Jermaine Outerbridge, Sinclair Gibbons.

There will be a Cup Match prize presentation at 8.00 p.m. following the match and anyone unable to play on Saturday should contact Gladwyn Peniston at 297-0089.

Hasan Durham