The new season starts on April 11 with an incoming tour by Eton College of England and will conclude at the end of September with the annual Testimonial game at Lord's which could feature two top international names.

Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president El James said this week he was enthused by the summer programme planned.

"We are excited about the many good things that we feel are in store for the players and every lover of the sport of cricket in the Island,'' said James.

"We strongly believe that the 2000 season is going to be extra special because for the first time we will be starting the campaign off as a member of what is going to be a very active region, the Americas Region.

"As a result of a meeting held last November in Toronto, we now have officially formed the Americas Region, something that enables us to hold tournaments within the area and qualify for many of the major competitions that exist throughout the world.'' It was last November that James revealed, following the Toronto meeting, that Bermuda would be among the beneficiaries of a seven-year programme.

Plans were drawn up between cricketing nations of the Americas Region, officials of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the West Indies Cricket Board, calling for a significant number of tournaments at three levels (senior, under-19 and under-15) to be held over an extended period.

Included in the plans was provision for two youth squads to be involved in the forthcoming World Cup competitions.

In addition to Bermuda, the counties involved in the region are Canada, United States, Cayman Islands and Argentina.

"We are already looking at 2001 when the qualification round of the Under-19 World Cup is going to be held among the Americas Region and whoever comes out the winner will represent the region in the finals,'' said James.

"To start things off locally this year we have the tour by Eton College early in April. They will play a series of matches against our Under-19s and a couple of senior teams. Then we have the Cayman Under-15s coming here to challenge our youngsters in July prior to Cup Match.

"Our senior team will be going out to compete in the first regional tournament in Canada right after Cup Match and later in the year we have the Red Stripe Bowl when our senior team will once again be involved.'' In preparation for a busy international and domestic schedule, the BCBC have worked closely with the West Indies Cricket Board to stage coaching courses here. Willie Bourne of Barbados was on the Island recently to conduct the first of two such courses.

"Hopefully, we will be able to get him back here for a second-phase course by the end of April ... and afterwards these individuals will have to wait a year before taking the advanced coaching course and obtain a certificate which has tremendous recognition since the courses are sanctioned by the WICB,'' added James.

"If all goes as well as we expect at the end of the advanced courses we should have anywhere from eight to a dozen qualified coaches with certificates -- and that will be a big plus for Bermuda cricket overall.'' The president said there had been great interest among the local coaches and noted that Bourne's courses had been well attended.

"We had hoped to get at least 16 people but we got well in excess of that number which showed how keen people were to improve their skills,'' he said.

Meanwhile, the Board will hold their annual meeting at Warwick Workmen's Club on April 6, starting at 7.30 p.m., with James and the majority of his fellow executives intending to run for office again.

Teen talent: O.J.Pitcher, vice-captain of Bermuda's under-19 team last season and one of three locals who represented the Americas Region in the recent youth World Cup in Sri Lanka, could be in for another busy year as BCBC continue their ambitious plans for youth cricket.