termed a success from a Bermuda standpoint in its build-up to the next ICC Trophy in Kenya in February.

And while the view may not be shared by many, Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president Ed Bailey and coach Doug Ferguson are both confident the team will do well in Kenya.

"The tour helped to sort out strengths and weaknesses of the whole team,'' said Ferguson whose second stint as national coach ends on July 31. "Because of the quality of the West Indies fast bowling; aggressive, hostile, accurate, consistent, you name it, it made life very difficult for our batsmen who have never confronted this type of bowling before.

"These bowlers were in the same mould as Test bowlers. At Somerset on the first Sunday I think they would have troubled many first-class cricket countries, countries like Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.'' The West Indies Select, with some players in line for Test squad selection in the near future, proved far too strong for local opposition as they won all six matches on their tour.

With five fast bowlers and some top quality batsmen, the tourists seldom allowed their opponents to get into winning positions. The only threat of defeat came in the opening match against the President's XI, which they won by two wickets and, very briefly, in the final match on Sunday against Bermuda when they were restricted to 223 for nine after 50 overs only to quickly have their hosts in trouble at 14 for five and facing yet another defeat.

"On Sunday things started to happen for us as far as our bowling,'' added Ferguson. "We were doing what they have been doing, bowling line and length.

"I thought the bowling was generally sound. We did quite a lot of work with the spinners, Bruce Perinchief, who I thought had two good games, and Wayne Richardson. At one stage I thought we were going to keep them under 200, but even 224 was a getable total.

"With the quality of batsmen I thought we had I felt we would do all right. I was very impressed with (Franklyn) Rose.'' Though he did not play in the final match, Barbados fast bowler Sammy Skeete also caught the eye of Ferguson.

"Skeete was persistent as well. He didn't have the others' height but he was just as quick,'' the coach said.

By the halfway stage of the tour fans were engaged in hot debates over who should be picked and who left out. Even the method of preparation, which began in earnest last summer with a tour of England, has come in for criticism from one former player who said then should have been the time to start grooming youngsters.

"A lot of people are very harsh on the players,'' Ferguson said in observation of Bermuda supporters. "You won't find quality teams like this in Kenya. We could do well, having learned the lessons. We should do quite well.

Now Bermuda has to take stock.'' The selectors made a bold decision to drop both Arnold Manders and Charlie Marshall for the second match against the West Indians. In the first match opening batsman Ricky Hill was left out and had to regain his place through his performance with the President's XI.

On Saturday, Hill hit a stylish 52 to become the first local player to pass 50 on the tour. He was one of the few local batsmen not intimidated by the battery of fast bowlers.

Much of the criticism has been centered around the senior players in the team like Noel Gibbons and Clevie Wade who both struggled against some first-class bowling.

"Noel is certainly off form at the moment but he's obviously got a lot of talent in him,'' said Ferguson. "I don't think anyone can fault Allan Douglas. He has kept wicket beautifully and has still got the ability to make runs.

"Albert Steede has done reasonably well. Originally the captaincy was with Wendell (Smith), then Charlie and then they opted for Albert. Since he has come in, the captaincy has done him no harm whatsoever. He has learned a lot.

Twenty-five is not too young to become a good captain.'' The combination of a lack of quality pace bowling, the success of the spinners during the tour and the conditions in Kenya might see the selectors leaning more towards spin bowling in the build-up to ICC.

At present there are four spinners in the squad, Arnold Manders and Del Hollis of the off-break variety and orthodox left-armers Perinchief and Richardson who troubled the West Indian right-handers with their leg-breaks. "We're going to need spinners out there from what I gather,'' said Ferguson. "We are struggling at the moment for pace bowlers.'' Terry Burgess had the worst bowling spell of all the Bermuda bowlers on Sunday as the West Indies batsmen attacked him on anything loose.

By the end of his spell, the thrust had gone out of Burgess' bowling and he was bowling at only a brisk medium pace to tail-enders Eugene Antoine and Franklyn Rose.

Like Bermuda, the other ICC countries have been stepping up their preparations in time for next February.

"Ireland are in it for the first time and they have a lot of first-class experience,'' said Ferguson, who also named countries like Denmark and Holland amongst those who have stepped up their preparation.

OUTGUNNED -- "With the quality of batsmen I thought we had I felt we would do all right,'' said national coach Doug Ferguson of Bermuda's failed attempt to score 224.