The sky just might be the limit for Bermuda?s senior national cricket team, according to past Bermuda Cricket Board president and current team manager El James.

James, speaking to shortly after watching Bermuda clinch the Intercontinental Cup Americas Group and qualify for October?s semi-finals in Namibia after pasting Cayman Islands by an innings and 105 runs at Toronto Cricket Club, now predicts even bigger and better things to come for Clay Smith?s national squad.

?I think the guys have shown tremendous character and motivation is probably the biggest thing that?s happened to this team. They believe in themselves and they believe they can win, even when the chips were down,? he said.

?I think the players now realise that with each success comes new opportunities. They were successful in Ireland and Canada and now there?s another opportunity in Namibia and who knows from there.?

James, who snared five-wickets for a mere two runs representing Bermuda at the 1982 ICC Trophy in England, said the success will ultimately filter down to tomorrow?s cricketers, who, given the 2007 World Cup is just around the corner, have everything to strive for.

?It?s exciting to finally see Bermuda reaching the point where everything is happening and we are getting success that is going to be a shot in the arm for a sport that so many have played and love,? James added.

?I think we are going to see a revival of cricket and what this does, with proper planning, is guarantee the longevity of cricket so that youngsters coming along can take it to an even higher level than where we are at the moment. And I think there are some good days ahead for cricket in Bermuda.

?And I think there will always be a spot in this team for any player in Bermuda who really puts the time and effort in and is willing to listen and go along with the team philosophy.?

James, however, took a mighty swipe at those yet to join the Bermuda national cricket squad band wagon.

?We still don?t have everyone in Bermuda believing that we are really and truly on the international cricket map,? he said. ?I thought we had erased all doubts after our success in Ireland. And evidently there are some that still don?t believe in this team. But as long as this team continues to believe in themselves we are going to see a lot of success. And I think it?s time all of Bermuda rally around whatever team we send away to represent us and let?s all move ahead together, not just the cricketers but all of Bermuda moving together.?

James was referring to support the likes of which was personified by Robert (Icewater) Smith who accompanied Bermuda?s national team to Ireland and Canada, proudly flying the Island?s national flag and offering encouragement.

?We had one supporter out here who has become a part of the team,? James added. ?All the players look for him and believe there is some magic in his flag. It brought magic in Ireland and now here in Canada, so maybe we need to take him everywhere we go.?

Like James, Bermuda skipper Clay Smith has also urged the public to become even more supportive of his team?s efforts.

?Hopefully our success will encourage more people and sponsors to come onboard because Bermuda cricket is going somewhere, and going somewhere fast,? said Smith.

?We hope things will iron themselves out because Bermuda cricket is going places and we need backing from the entire public. And I would like to thank everyone who has been supportive of this team and we hope things can only get better from here.?

As for October?s Intercontinental Cup semi-final clash with Kenya in Namibia, Smith stated: ?We are looking forward to that, especially for myself and Dean (Minors). This opportunity gives us a chance to try and go there and seek some revenge on Kenya. We played against them in 1994 (ICC Trophy) when they beat us in the semi-finals and prevented us from going to the World Cup.

?So to be able to play against them is something we all are definitely looking forward to knowing they also have One Day playing status. We realise the task is going to be big and there are some areas in the team which needs to be strengthened.

?But overall it?s all about challenges and that?s what this team is about . . . challenges. We give thanks and praise to the Lord and as long as we have him on our side than anything is possible.?