Janeiro Tucker is looking forward to his new challenge as assistant coach of the Bermuda cricket team.

Tucker, who has captained Bermuda and represented the island at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, has agreed a one-year deal and is excited about working with head coach Herbie Bascome.

“Herbie asked me to be his assistant and it’s a new challenge,” Tucker said. “Since I don’t play any more, it’s something new for me take up.”

The Level Two coach believes that he will be a “good asset” to the national coaching set-up, given his wealth of experience.

“I’ve been there and done it, so I think my experience will definitely be an asset,” Tucker said.

Bascome, the former seam bowler, who was Bermuda’s joint leading wicket-taker alongside Dwayne Leverock at the 2001 ICC Trophy Tournament in Ontario, Canada, was presented as the new coach last week.

He served as the assistant coach of Gus Logie, the former West Indies batsman, who coached Bermuda at the 2007 World Cup.

“Herbie and I go way back and I’m happy he got the job,” Tucker said. “I thought he should have had some part of it when Gus left, but now is his time and I think he will do a good job. It’s just a matter of the players buying into the philosophy.

“It’s a whole new ball game for both of us and we are looking forward to the challenge of moving cricket in the right direction.

“It’s not going to be an easy task. If the players are willing to put in the work then we can move forward as a country.”

Bascome’s first tournament will be the Twenty20 qualifier that Bermuda will host from August 15 to 25, involving Canada, the United States and Cayman Islands. The top two countries will advance to the global qualifier in November.

Tucker said the response from the players has been very encouraging.

“We are still in the process of the selection committee getting a team sorted, but there’s been a lot of feedback,” he added.

“A lot of players have been calling, saying they want to be a part of the programme.”

Asked whether Bermuda will be involved in any warm-up matches to prepare for the qualifiers, Tucker replied: “We’re going to meet to see what the BCB can put in place.”

Bascome fills the void left by Clay Smith, who stepped aside after his contract was allowed to expire.