with Bermuda in next month's ICC Trophy Tournament in Kenya, a former local umpire has warned that the United States will be no pushover.

Dennis Heath, a member of the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association until he left for San Diego, California, almost eight years ago, umpired in two trial matches staged by the US last summer and believes that they are capable of reaching unlimited heights in Kenya.

However, he realised that the chances of both Bermuda and the the US teams were significantly increased as a result of the decision made in 1992 to elevate Zimbabwe to Test status and have the top three countries from the ICC Tournament qualify for the World Cup.

Heath, speaking to The Royal Gazette by telephone yesterday, said that the trials he saw in his area included the cream of the crop of US players. He believed there has been a serious attempt to produce their strongest possible team for Kenya.

Not surprisingly, the US team is primarily made up of foreign-born players, most of them from the West Indies and who play regularly in leagues on the east and west coasts.

The US team would have probably been even more formidable had former West Indies Test players Everton Mattis and Faoud Bacchus not eliminated themselves from selection because they have not lived in the country long enough to qualify.

Heath, who actually witnessed all three of the trial matches played in his area, said that he was unable to compare the US team with Bermuda because of his lack of knowledge of several younger local players. But while comparing the US team to previous Bermuda ICC teams when he resided here, Heath concluded that the US team would be just as strong.

"I certainly would think that they rank about the same level of those previous ICC teams sent by Bermuda, and in those days the Bermuda teams were very good ones,'' said Heath.

"The US team has good all-round strength and I was particularly impressed by their fast bowling, headed by a former Jamaican national team player (Hopeland Barrett) and another quickie from one of the islands named Reginald Benjamin.'' Heath tried to think of some local bowlers he could compare Barrett to, but after going through the memorybook of his mind, he was unable to come up with anybody with comparable pace.

"I really don't think anybody there was as fast as this fellow, he is quite quick,'' said Heath about Barrett.

Overall, he felt that the US team would have great depth in both its batting and bowling. But he indicated that the Bermuda batsmen will have to use a great deal of discipline against the American fast bowling if the two teams were to meet later in the tournament.

Heath was thrilled to learn that Dean Minors and Clay Smith, two players who have always showed great potential from an early age, had made the Bermuda team, but he was surprised to hear that fast bowler Anthony Edwards had staked a claim in the team once again. "He's been around for awhile, hasn't he?'' said Heath.

"I'm really pleased to see Clay and Dean progress like this,'' said Heath.

"I hope they both do well. It's important that they both try to discipline themselves when they go up against these foreign bowlers in Kenya.

"I'm also happy to see Albert Steede named captain, he is a good player.

These three in particular have the potential to do very good out there.'' He cautioned Bermuda to learn from the mistakes made at previous tournaments when Bermuda "slackened off at the wrong time'' only to pay for it dearly.

"I've seen players like Clevie Wade, Arnold Manders, Noel Gibbons and a few others play well with their backs against the wall, they have all just got to make a positive approach and I'm sure everything will go well for them.'' Heath, a lab technician who is enjoying his cancer research work in California, still has great passion for the game. During the season he often drives 355 miles on the weekend to umpire in the Southern California Cricket League.

"Some people around here say I must be mad, but the point of the matter is that I just love the game of cricket,'' he said.

Bermuda ICC records, Page 24.

DEAN MINORS -- "I'm really pleased to see his progress,'' Dennis Heath said of the Bermuda wicket-keeper.