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Spinner Tamauri Tucker is hoping to force his way into the starting eleven for next year's World Cup qualifiers after his man-of-the-series performance against Argentina.

The 20-year-old Cleveland slow bowler took 11 wickets on the A-team trip to South America.

Tucker, who has been a bit-part player for the senior squad, relished the opportunity to show what he could do, leading Bermuda's bowling attack in the 3-1 series victory.

"Really, I was just waiting for my chance to play and put everything together that I learned from Australia.

"There's quite a bit of competition among the spinners at the moment. It just makes you want to bowl more, concentrate more and be at your best at all times."

Tucker, who was one of the first players to be selected for Bermuda's High Performance Programme, said the six weeks he had spent at the cricket academy in Australia had sharpened his game.

He spent most of the Americas Championship in Florida on the sidelines but got his chance to shine on last week's A tour.

"I think my game is coming along pretty good," said Tucker, who was the star of the Under-19 World Cup qualifying campaign last year.

"I'm pretty much trying to force my way into the main squad."

With the ageless Dwayne 'Sluggo' Leverock, big-turning St. David's tweaker Delyone Borden, vice-captain Rodney Trott and a host of all-rounders like Chris Douglas and Irving Romaine, Bermuda is not short of options in the spin department.

"The South African wickets don't really take too much turn. I think we are going to have some seam bowlers come in.

"There's a lot of competition for places."

Tucker, who supports India and likes to model himself on Harbhajan Singh, said: "I'm more of a containment bowler. I try to keep the run-rate down and use my variation to get the batsmen out."

The youngster, who had an economy rate of better than three an over on the Argentina tour, said the team had been pleased with the tour overall.

"We were looking to beat them four or five, but they came through on the day and won that one game. They've got some talented players and the final game was pretty close.

"They gave us a good challenge and we were happy with the victory."

Baimax International

Series Results

Bermuda A beat Argentina by 136 runs (Chris Douglas 79, Oronde Bascome 56*, Fiqre Crockwell 51. Tamauri Tucker 4 for 24)

Bermuda A beat Argentina by two wickets (Tucker 3 for 18, Bascome 38, Glenn Blakeney 37*)

Argentina beat Bermuda A by 43 runs (Delyone Borden 1 for 21 and 32)

Bermuda A beat Argentina by 12 runs (Blakeney 72, Irving Romaine 71, Kyle Hodsoll 5 for 36, Rodney Trott 3 for 62)

Final Game Abandoned

* Bermuda win the series 3-1

20-20 International

Bermuda A beat Argentina by 54 runs (Blakeney 53, Crockwell 48, Tucker 3 for 8) n

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