Arnold Manders is hoping that lightening strikes twice during a second stint as head coach of Bermuda’s Under-19 national cricket team.

The former Bermuda captain and St George’s Cup Match all-rounder was the coach of the island’s team that competed at the 2008 ICC Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia.

Now he is hoping that the crop of players at his disposal can emulate that historical achievement at July’s 2019 ICC Americas Region World Cup qualifier in Toronto, Canada.

“We have already competed at the ICC Under-19 World Cup and this is something that we emphasise to the players,” Manders said.

“We can show them that it is possible and we talk about this all the time at every training session.”

Bermuda qualified for its first ever ICC Under-19 World Cup after being crowned ICC Americas champions at the 2007 regional qualifier in Toronto.

Bermuda beat tournament hosts and favourites Canada by 13-runs in a “winner takes all” clash at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club in Ontario to secure their spot at the 2008 ICC Under-19 World Cup.

Bermuda’s youngsters failed to progress beyond the group phase on their debut at the Under-19 World Cup but managed to pull off an historical win over fellow ICC Associate rivals Ireland.

The 2019 ICC Americas Region World Cup qualifying tournament will take place in Toronto July 7-19.

Bermuda will compete twice against hosts Canada, the United States, Cayman Islands and Argentina in a round-robin tournament with the top team advancing to the 2020 ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa.

“Usually it’s just us, Canada and United States but now Cayman Islands and Argentina have been added,” Manders said.

“We have to play eight matches so that’s why the tournament is longer now.”

Manders, who is also a former Bermuda Cricket Board director of cricket, is presently putting a provisional training squad through their paces in preparation for this summer’s World Cup qualifiers which boasts several players who have already played at the senior level domestically.

“It’s a relatively young team and we have a lot of work to do in a short time,” Manders added. “But this is a World Cup qualifier and we are going in with the intentions of winning.

“Right now we train twice a week at Berkeley school. We have been in the gym practicing a lot of skill work and also use the classrooms for presentations.”

Manders is being assisted by assistant coaches Clevie Wade, the former Bermuda and St George’s Cup Match captain, and Cal Waldron, the former PHC all-rounder.

Wade also served as Manders’s assistant coach during the latter’s previous stint at the helm.

Russell Richardson has been appointed as team manager.

Meanwhile, St David’s have begun their search for a new cricket coach for the 2019 season, following the resignation of George Cannonier at the end of last season.

Cannonier revealed to The Royal Gazette back in September that he was stepping down, soon after helping the team reclaim the Eastern Counties Cup with victory over Cleveland in the final.

“I don’t think I’ll coach with St David’s again, I’ve spoilt myself,” Cannonier said at the time. “I think I’ve stayed too long, they need to get somebody new.”

St David’s are invited applications for the part-time post of senior coach. Interested persons are requested to send a resume via e-mail to stdavidsccc@gmail.com