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Teenage opener Terryn Fray hopes to lead from the front with the bat as he attempts to take Bermuda's Under-19 cricketers back to the World Cup.

Skipper Fray, 17, believes the youngsters can succeed where the senior team failed and show the world that Bermuda still belongs on the big stage.

The road to Kenya 2010 begins next month in Canada with the Americas Region tournament.

Bermuda must finish in the top two at that event to make it through to a global qualifier to be held in Toronto in September, where they would compete with ten countries, probably including the likes of Ireland, Scotland and Holland for the final five spots in the World Cup in Africa early next year.

Talented Fray, who already has a century to his name in domestic cricket this season, hopes to emulate David Hemp - one of the few heroes of Bermuda's World Cup qualification campaign - and do the business with the bat for his team.

"He is one of my idols because of the way he plays for Bermuda. My job is, like his, to try and bat through the innings.

"It's not about hitting sixes and fours for me, I have to pick up the singles and make sure I bat through."

If he is half as successful as Hemp, who scored three unbeaten centuries to top the averages in South Africa, then Bermuda will have unearthed a gem.

Chris Douglas, still only 19 despite his senior team experience, has been selected as vice captain and will open alongside Fray, with a bit more licence to play his shots.

Big things are also expected of Dwayne 'Sluggo' Leverock's 15-year-old nephew Kamu Leverock.

The youngster has been in fine form with the bat and scored a half-century for Police against title favourites Southampton Rangers this weekend.

Somerset's off-spinner Joshua Gilbert - the top wicket taker in Bermuda so far this season - is another key cog in the Under-19s attack.

Left-arm seamer Jordan De Silva, Oakham schoolboy Greg Maybury, Southampton Rangers pace-man Stefan Dill and batsman Deunte Darrell and Regino Smith form the core of a squad which Fray believes is well equipped to compete against the best.

"We're going to be up against older teams in this tournament but we have a lot of talented young players.

"Some of our players have been the best performers in senior cricket so far this season. Competing in the Premier Division and playing in Open Cricket for our clubs has helped us a lot."

With a few exceptions, batting has been the Achilles heel of the Under-19s so far this season and coach Andre 'Doc' Manders admitted there was still work to be done in that department.

And Fray is aware that there will be a lot of pressure on him and Douglas, who returned from injury with 93 for St David's against Social Club at the weekend.

"Hopefully Chris and myself can get us off to a great start. We've both played in this tournament already and we know what to expect."

There's potentially a lot of cricket ahead for Bermuda's young guns. A top two place in Toronto would win them a return trip to Canada for the ten-team global qualifier, which in turn could lead to a spot against the elite of world cricket in Kenya early next year.

"If we do qualify this time we'll have to get serious and make sure everything is in sync to qualify again in September.

"With the senior team not qualifying for the World Cup it is even more important that we do it. We can still put Bermuda on the map - even if it's at Under-19 level - and hopefully we can show the senior team that we have players that can come through and play important roles for them also." n

Bermuda's team

Players

Terryn Fray (captain), Chris Douglas (vice captain). Greg Maybury, Deunte Darrell, Jordan DeSilva, Kevon Fubler, Regino Smith, Sinclair Smith (wkt), Joshua Gilbert, Kamau Leverock, Lateef Trott, Stefan Dill, Tre Manders, Pierre Smith. Reserves: Shea Pitcher, Brian Hall, Jordan Wilkin.

Officials

Andre Manders (head coach), Clevie Wade (assistant coach), Terry Fray (U19 director), Gerald Bean (manager), Craig Brown (physio).

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