Two weeks ago the Bermuda national cricket team won three games on a successful tour to Jamaica, but now comes the real challenge. The team leaves today for Indianapolis where they will play against Canada, United States, and Suriname with the top two teams heading to Ireland for the T20 World Cup qualifiers in July.

It is anyone’s guess who will come through this tournament as all the teams are of similar quality. Canada would normally be favourites with their experience, but even they have fallen off the bandwagon and could find it tough to qualify.

Bermuda could have the upper hand on our opponents because of the previous tour to Jamaica, which enabled us to gain some much needed match practice. This group will come down to who can execute their game plan the best on the day.

One major concern for all teams will be the quality of the pitches. This is the first time that international matches will take place in Indianapolis, and taking into consideration all the bad weather that has been about, there are serious concerns about whether the pitches will be up to par.

This could play a determining factor, however all the teams have to play on them. It will come down to which team can adjust to the elements. Fortunately for Bermuda, we play the second game on Day 1 of the tournament, which will allow us to observe how the pitch plays before playing on it ourselves.

Let’s take a closer look at the Bermuda squad to see what each team member has to offer:

Janeiro Tucker: The captain will need to lead from the front in all aspects of the game. His ability to tear bowling attacks apart could be a crucial factor in how the team fares. The team has a lot of belief in him as captain and they will feed off his confidence.

OJ Pitcher: Vice-captain and a very crafty player, with both bat and ball. Not the most explosive player, but his ability to rotate strike in the middle is invaluable to the team’s success. His bowling for this format of the game could also come in handy.

Dion Stovell: Oozes confidence and on his day can single-handily win matches. Bermuda will need him to be focused and to stay injury free, as he can do it all, with both bat and ball.

Jordan DeSilva: Has proven to be a vital part of the bowling attack with his consistency. His left arm seam bowling adds variety to the bowling attack and he proved in Malaysia that he is more than capable with the bat.

James Celestine: One of the more aggressive players in the team whose batting style is suited for this format of cricket. He has the ability to score runs quickly, which is a massive bonus. He is a hard working player who will be looking to make a big impact.

Mishael Paynter: Comes into the team as a late replacement for Jason Anderson. He’s an early order batsman who will also give cover for the wicketkeeper. He will be bubbling with excitement, as this is his debut tour for Bermuda.

Stefan Kelly: Has a professional approach and will want to do well. Stefan has bowled well so far in England this season and will be keen to leave his mark on this tournament.

David Hemp: Since returning to Bermuda he has worked tremendously hard at his game, as he will look to be consistent throughout the tournament. His professionalism and composure under pressure could be a major component in our success.

Justin Pitcher: He is an aggressive minded player who relishes the Twenty20 game. Look for him to raise his game a notch with both bat and ball. Has the ability to score fast, which could be a bonus in the lower end of the batting order. For a fast bowler he is very athletic in the field, which is a plus.

Joshua Gilbert: It’s been a while since Joshua last played for Bermuda so he will be eager to make an impact. He has worked tremendously hard and it is paying off. Showed in Jamaica he is more than capable of playing at this level.

Jacobi Robinson: A late replacement for Malachi Jones. Jacobi will be out to prove his doubters wrong. One thing about Jacobi, he is a fighter and you can guarantee that he will leave it all on the field.

Tre Manders: Young, and gifted, but Bermuda will want him at his best, as we have seen his true potential locally. He will need to be flexible, as he can find himself batting anywhere from 1-7. His ability to rotate strike will be crucial.

Christian Burgess: Expectations are high for him, but we must remember he is still young. Christian will relish the challenge and could excite us once again.

Delray Rawlins: His game has taken off since his move to England. Bermuda will look for him to continue bowling tight, as he has in previous tournaments, but don’t forget he is no slouch with the bat either.

In a tournament of this magnitude no one player will assure our qualification. Each player must be a team player and understand that as each game evolves, their role may change. Being able to adapt to various situations will be essential to the team’s success.

This Bermuda team can go a long way towards putting the Malaysia debacle behind them, and in terms of ability the squad is certainly good enough to finish in the top two.