Delray Rawlins is expecting big things from his team in next week’s Under-19 World Cup Qualifiers.

The team’s captain is back on the Island and ready to lead Bermuda in their bid to reach next year’s tournament in Bangladesh.

Rawlins cannot wait to get started, and believes that playing at home will give his team an edge against United States and Canada. Surinam, who were also due to play, dropped out yesterday because they were unable to obtain visas to travel through the US.

That means that the three teams will now play each other twice, with the winner going to Bangladesh, and the second-placed team being given another chance to reach the World Cup at a global qualifier later this year.

“It’s a big opportunity for the 14 of us to go to the world stage and put Bermuda back on the map,” Rawlins said.

“It’s brilliant to be playing at home, it’s going to help the boys a lot. Hopefully it gives them that sense of what it really means to play for their country, and wear the badge on their chest. Hopefully the crowd can come out and push behind the boys and get us to the World Cup.”

As a senior member of the squad, Rawlins already feels pressure to perform with bat and ball, as captain that has only increased. However, Bermuda’s team of coaches have impressed on Rawlins and others the need to enjoy the experience.

“Obviously you feel the pressure,” Rawlins said. “You get the nerves, the butterflies in your stomach, but one thing coach [Clevie] Wade has encourage me to do is just go and play my natural game. To think of it as just another game of cricket, even though it’s a really important tournament.

“Enjoying it is the key, trying to have fun with it, getting behind the boys and just going out and doing what you need to do.”

Bermuda have spent the better part of two years preparing for this moment, at home, and abroad, and Rawlins is aiming to put the lessons he has learned as a member of the Sussex Academy to good use.

It is not just as a captain that Rawlins has developed, his batting has come on leaps and bounds after working under Alan Wells, the former Sussex captain and England player. Wells is now director of cricket at St Bedes, where Rawlins goes to school.

“Him [Wells] being my coach through the whole season has really helped me because I can go to him whenever I want, email, or in person, and have a chat with him about what I can bring back to my country and help them,” Rawlins said.

“I can feel that my cricket has improved and I’m growing as a player, not only has it helped me on the field, but definitely off the field, being in that environment.

“My batting has definitely improved, especially since I have been at school. Having the time during free lessons, and after school, lengthy sessions by myself and the coach, has definitely allowed me to grow as a batsman. “Hopefully the skills and knowledge that I have learned I can put into practice next week.”

Bermuda face the US first on Sunday at Somerset Cricket Club, and Rawlins said his team would be a different proposition to the one that lost twice to the US in the under-17 tournament last year.

Then the home side’s batting let them down, and there have been some changes made to shore up the top order this time around.

“Last year we may have come up a few runs short from certain batsmen, but, I think with a few additions in the squad this year those spots and gaps with the runs have definitely been filled,” he said.

“I think we can do a lot of big things in this tournament, and having the US first, if we get that win, we can send a message to Canada that we’re focused on getting to the World Cup.”