National team cricket selectors have cast their net wider in search of new talent ahead of next year?s World Cup spectacle in the Caribbean.

And next week?s incoming tour by Trinidad and Tobago Division One club side Clico Preysal will provide any new additions to the national team programme with a golden opportunity to showcase their talents on the big stage against quality opposition in the absence of several key members.

Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday released a 13-man National Team Select XI chosen to take on the visiting Caribbean team in two 50 overs contests on Tuesday and Wednesday at the National Sports Centre (NSC), a squad containing only six members from Bermuda?s successful national team that captured a maiden Americas Championship title in Toronto last month.

?We have some young players and one or two senior players and the main idea is to try and expose as many players as possible to a level of competition they are not used to,? national coach Gus Logie explained.

Top wicketkeeper Dean Minors will captain the team which also contains three recalls and five debutants.

Herbie Bascome has been appointed coach for the two matches against Clico Preysal, who arrive on Island tomorrow.

?Herbie is going to be involved as coach of the team and I?ll be around to assist him as well. So basically Herbie will be in charge of this team,? Logie said.

Logie encouraged all of those chosen to play, in particular the squad?s younger members, to ?step up to the plate? and prove they are worthy of being labelled as national team material.

?That?s basically what we are looking at. . . . how much our youngsters want to really and truly raise their game to another level,? the former Windies Test star added.

?One of the ideas we have is to develop as many players as we possibly can, and so basically I?m looking to see exactly what level their cricket is at.?

Logie, however, admitted to being disappointed over the unavailability of two youngsters he rates highly who, for whatever reason, declined offers to try out for the team, among them Southampton Rangers? opening batsman Dion Stovell.

?We did call one of two youngsters who did make themselves unavailable,? the coach confirmed.

Next week will be Logie?s first assignment on home soil since last April?s 20/20 World Classic held at the NSC.

And the affable coach is very much looking forward to the rare privilege.

?It is good to be playing at home and basically what we have here is a national team select squad.? Logie said. ?We are playing at home, and so this is a good opportunity to expose as many payers as we possibly can at the end of the day.?

He also looks forward to continuing a long-time friendship with Clico Preysal coach, Tony Gray.

?Tony and myself played together at the West Indies level, and so it will be great to catch up on some old days,? Logie added.

Meanwhile, the curtain will fall upon the domestic season at the NSC over the weekend where First and Premier KO Cup Final actions takes prominence.

Today will see an inspired Leg Trappers ? fresh off an upset defeat of powerhouses Southampton Rangers in 20/20 action at Somerset Cricket Club less than 48 hours ago ? try to deny Cleveland County a second major trophy of the season when the two teams lock horns for the First Division KO crown at the NSC.

Rangers will then attempt to rebound from last Thursday?s shock defeat to Leg Trappers by claiming a fourth title for the season when they do battle against rank underdogs Flatt?s at the NSC.

Both matches were postponed last weekend due to inclement weather associated with Hurricane Florence.