Bermuda's seamers were put through their paces by former West Indies Test bowlers Bernard Julien and Kenny Benjamin at the Sir Frank Worrell Development Centre in Trinidad yesterday.

The Windies pace aces passed on their wealth of expertise to the Island's seam attack that includes 2007 World Cup veteran Kevin Hurdle, fiery pacer George O'Brien jr and Under-19 World Cup veteran Kyle Hodsoll.

And according to skipper Irving Romaine, Bermuda's bowlers were very receptive to the lessons being taught by two of the Caribbean's past greats.

"Our guys were really receptive to their advice and hopefully it pays off for us in South Africa," he said. "Kenny and Bernard were really impressive and they have encouraged our bowlers to stick it out."

Trinidadian Julien was a member of the Windies' victorious 1975 World Cup squad and also played English County cricket with Kent, while Antiguan Benjamin claimed 92 Test wickets for the Windies in 26 appearances with best figures of six for 66.

Benjamin, who is also a cricket commentator and groundsman in his native Antigua and Barbuda, toured Bermuda in 2006 with a Windies Legends squad that captured plate honours during the inaugural 20/20 World Cricket Classic at the National Sports Centre and he also played county cricket in England with Worcestershire.

"These guys both had brilliant careers and now they are helping our bowlers to try and be more consistent and bowl reverse swing," added Romaine. "Their involvement in our World Cup qualifying preparations has been very productive."

Rain has so far deprived the tourists of precious time out in the middle against local opposition with back-to-back fixtures against Trinidad's Under-23 side earlier this week postponed.

Romaine admits having invaluable matches fall prey to inclement weather has been a setback, particularly for University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC) students Jekon Edness and Stephen Outerbridge who are due to return to studies in the UK early next week.

However, he believes time spent at the cricket centre's indoor facility has more than compensated for lost time outdoors with team members now hopeful of finally suiting up for competition today against local club side Connection Wanderers.

"Even though we haven't played any matches yet the mood is pretty good. We have had a lot of physical training which has been very demanding and the players have been equal to the task," said the ever-smiling Romaine.

"The guys are a bit disappointed not to get in the middle and are anxious to get out there and play.

"With all the physical training we have had over the past few days I think the guys would rather be playing in the middle playing cricket. They are really looking forward to playing now."

Bermuda's cricketers have embarked on a 13-match, month-long training expedition in the Caribbean that also encompasses St.Lucia, St.Vincent and Grenada.

The Island's 15-member World Cup qualifying squad will be announced at the end of the month.

Bermuda have been pitted in Group B with ICC Associate powerhouse Kenya, who advanced to the semi -finals of the 2003 World Cup, 1994 ICC Trophy winners United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Denmark and recently crowned World Cricket League Division Three champions Afghanistan.

April's World Cup qualifiers will be staged in Johannesburg, South Africa April 1-19.

n Bermuda's ICC Americas rivals Canada have scheduled four one dayers against ICC Full Member country Zimbabwe next month

The matches are likely to take place in Harare March 18-26 and will mark the first time Canada has been involved in a major overseas series against a Full Member country.

Canada and Zimbabwe finished in a tie in a Twenty20 tournament in Toronto last October before the latter eventually won the exciting match in a bowl off.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, beat Kenya by seven-wickets in Nairobi yesterday to complete a 5-0 whitewash of their Associate rivals.

Bermuda will face Kenya April 6 in a World Cup qualifier in South Africa.