A bright point in Bermuda's darkest days
Rodney Trott, the Bermuda off spinner, was a relatively unknown when he arrived in South Africa last month.
But in a matter of weeks much of that has all changed as the youngster has made a name for himself at the Associate level with his uncanny ability to pick up wickets at vital stages.
The Bailey's Bay skipper was one of the few success stories during Bermuda's failed 2011 World Cup qualifying campaign, bagging a team-high 14 wickets at an average of 17.29 to carry a bowling attack that also boasts veteran left-arm spinner Dwayne Leverock.
And he might have done even better had it not been for a knee injury that ruled him out of Bermuda's ninth and tenth play-off with Uganda at Senwes Park.
Yet rather than dwell on personal milestones, Trott remains at a great loss for what might have been had Bermuda got things right in the group stage of the competition where they managed only one win against Denmark.
"It's been hard that the team did not win the games we should have. As a team we haven't accomplished our main goal (World Cup qualification) and that has been a disappointment," he said.
"But I'm confident we can bounce back because we have some talented young cricketers back home and I'm sure Bermuda will be a force again in the future."
Often outshining his senior counterparts, Trott displayed a maturity belying his tender years and it was impressive bowling in the crucial middle overs where he kept opposing batsmen on their toes.
"Rodney has been consistent throughout the whole series. He has the most wickets and has certainly been putting in the hard work," said Gus Logie, the Bermuda coach.
The budding spinner was one of six Bermudians that completed a six-week training stint at the Brisbane Cricket Academy last year in Australia and since then his game has come on in leaps and bounds.
According to Trott, it was time well spent.
"I learned a lot of things at the Brisbane Academy. When I was there I learned how to bowl on different surfaces and conditions and I think that is what has helped me over here (South Africa)," he explained.
"My expectations before I arrived here were to take at least two wickets a match and now I have achieved that. Basically I have just been concentrating on doing what I have to make the team benefit.
"I feel comfortable bowling in the middle overs because I feel I am a wicket-taker for the team. If I can create problems in the middle overs then it makes things a bit easier for the other bowlers coming after me to do what they have to.
"I have been bowling fairly well during this tournament and putting in the hard work. And all in all I have been confident and satisfied with my bowling."
Trott has also relished the experience of playing alongside those he once watched from the sidelines as a kid.
"It's been a good experience just to be around the senior players and experience a whole new level of competition," he said. "Overall, it has been a pretty good tour for me personally."
@$:n Under the guidence of Head Coach Andre Manders, Assistance Coach Clevie Wade and Terry Fray Under-19 Director, the Under-19 National Squad have recently taken part in an Elite Easter Training Camp.
"The camp was a great success this year," said Fray. "It is clear that a full week of structured training really gives the players the time to correct their mistakes and improve their skill level remarkably."