After a welcome break from the scorching heat yesterday, the teams competing in the International Youth Tournanment prepare for some interesting matches over the next four days.

Rivals England, Scotland and Ireland have established themselves as the teams to beat after unbeaten starts to the week-long tournament. England, the defending champions, have won their two matches so far as have Ireland, while Scotland have three wins under their belts.

Today's Scotland-Ireland clash at Somerset, as well as the Ireland-England match on Friday and the England-Scotland encounter on Saturday will all have a bearing on the championship which will be decided on Sunday.

"We're not going to take any team lightly,'' promised England coach Geoff Arnold after their victory over Denmark on Tuesday.

"I would like to think we're good enough to retain the trophy.'' Arnold admits the heat could be "the deciding factor'' as the humid conditions have clearly taken its toll on the players.

"We're trying to prepare ourselves as much as possible for the heat,'' said the England coach.

England will have more than just the heat to contend with as strong teams from Ireland and Scotland, coached by Englishmen Mike Hendrick and Jim Love, go in search of their first IYT title.

John Blain, the Scotland captain, would like to complete a remarkable double by leading the Scotland team to at least a top three spot which would qualify them for a place in the Youth World Cup in South Africa next year.

Scotland are actually aiming to win the tournament outright for the first time.

"I think we have the side to do that,'' said a confident Blain during the rest day.

He was a member of the Scotland team who qualified for the 1999 World Cup after finishing in the top three at the ICC Trophy Tournament in Malaysia earlier this year.

Blain played 11 times for the full Scotland team in 1996 when he became the youngest player to win a full Scottish cap; at age 17 and 114 days. He is now on the staff of English county team Northamptonshire.

The highly-rated fast bowler points to spinners Ross Mitchinson and Greg Maiden, who took seven wickets between them against Bermuda on Tuesday, and batsman Ayaz Gul as players who will play key roles. Gul's 93 against Denmark on Monday remains the highest knock in the tournament.

Holland also have their hopes high, despite losing their opening match to Denmark after scoring just 124. On Tuesday, they beat Canada by 57 runs and they are in a position to determine their own fate with matches against England today, Scotland on Friday and Ireland on Saturday.

"We haven't played particularly well, even here today, so there is still a lot of work to be put in,'' said New Zealand-born coach David Trist after the victory over Canada.

A key decision for Trist will be how to use his key bowlers, paceman Sebastiaan Gokke and spinner Fasal Zaman over the next four days.

"With Gokke maybe we'll rest him because quite clearly we have to beat Scotland or Ireland, which I think is a possibility,'' said Trist.

"Four days in a row is going to be demanding. "One of the problems is the boys are from Europe and it has been a very cold and wet summer to date and they simply are not used to (heat). The last two or three are going to be the critical ones, we're going to see who's tough and who's not.'' Trist admits that Holland are deeply disappointed at missing out on qualifying for the World Cup in England. They will be aiming to make amends by reaching the Youth World Cup.

"I think after Holland, like Bermuda, missed out on qualifying at the ICC, there is an air of disappointment and despondency hanging over those countries. Hopefully, the youth side will show the way forward.

"I think we've got bowlers but I'm concerned about the promising batsmen, we don't seem to have the depth.'' All the visiting teams have exciting youngsters, an indication of how the game is being built at the youth level in the non-Test-playing countries.

"There is a lot more professionalism in cricket now,'' Trist adds. "I'm a professional coach of 15 years, mostly with first-class sides, and you've got Mike Hendrick (Ireland), Jim Love (Scotland) and Geoff Arnold (England) and there is a lot more emphasis being placed on the youth and the significance of tournaments such as this.

"There is a desire to move the game forward and we are a part of that so obviously we are setting higher standards than perhaps the boys have been previously exposed to and this is the value of these tournaments.''