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Talented young spin bowler Rodney Trott is hoping to make his national team breakthrough when he travels to Kenya next week.

Trott, 19, is one of a crop of talented youngsters, along with seamer Stefan Kelly and all-rounder Malachi Jones, included in the squad for the Africa trip.

And he is determined to make the most of the opportunity - both on and off the pitch.

"Coach is definitely looking at me and I think that during this trip if I produce the goods I'll have a great chance of making the team for the World Cup.

"That's always been one of my dreams. If I do get picked I won't know what to do," he joked.

Trott, who was the leading wicket-taker for the under-19s on their tour of Barbados, has been catching the eye of talent-spotters since he was a kid.

He made his full senior debut for Bailey's Bay at just 11-years-old and has continued to impress with his ability to turn the ball both ways.

Trott, whose favourite cricketers are Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, toured Canada with the Bermuda for the Intercontinental Cup but has yet to make his debut.

Called up

With a full slate of two four-day matches and seven one-day internationals on this trip, it seems certain that he will do so in Africa.

"I was kind of surprised to get called up but I knew my chance had to come some time," he said.

"I think it is good that they are giving the young guys the opportunity to play.

"I think sometimes we have been overlooked but they have given us a chance on this tour and hopefully we can prove ourselves."

He added that the prospect of travelling to Kenya and South Africa was an extra incentive.

"I think it's a good trip for cricket aspects but also for life as well. I can learn a lot in Africa - how they live, their culture and stuff like that. I'm really looking forward to it."

Trott is the latest in a line of top class spinners that Bermuda has produced and will have to work hard to win a first team spot with Hasan Durham and Dwayne 'Sluggo' Leverock in the squad.

But it is not a challenge that daunts him.

"The two spinners they have got right now are left handed and I am right handed so I think I can add something.

"When we are training we all bowl together and I watch them and try and learn from them.

"I'm always talking to Sluggo and those guys about how I can improve my game."

One area where Trott is certain to improve Bermuda's chances is in the field.

He won the safe hands award at Cup Match and adds a youthful enthusiasm to a side that is often criticized for its lack of athleticism.

"I love to field, I look forward to it. That's one thing that I could do - add a bit of depth to the fielding."

With all the headlines over contract wrangling and George O'Brien's omission from the team, the emergence of Trott has been somewhat overlooked in the build up to the Africa tour.

But the teenager says all the problems off the field and the talk about contracts is not affecting him.

"It doesn't bother me that much. I'm just happy to be involved and I'm just trying to establish myself in the team.

"I don't think it will affect us on the pitch but it would be better if it was sorted out before we went.

"If the team's happy, I'm happy, that's the way I view it."

The Bermuda team leaves for Kenya on Tuesday and will begin their first game, a four-day Intercontinental Cup clash with the hosts in Nairobi, the following Sunday.[[In-content Ad]]

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