At the very top of Gus Logie?s Christmas wishlist this year would have been two things ? an opening batsman capable of scoring first-class hundreds and a strike bowler of genuine quality.

And while Christmas came early in the form of the left-hander David Hemp, (22 hundreds, 12,066 runs) Bermuda?s quest for a seamer capable of troubling top-class batsman is ongoing.

However, one young Bermudian who many believe will soon fill the void is back at home for the holidays and talking with an assured confidence about his future prospects.

Stefan Kelly is now into his third year of a sports scholarship at Oakham School in the English Midlands and has spent the last two weeks furthering his cricketing education on a school tour in South Africa.

The 17-year old has spent much of the winter in the indoor nets developing his technique and stands a strong chance of being selected for Leicestershire?s Under 19 squad in the summer.

To gain a place in a county Under 19 squad at such a young age, particularly as a quick bowler, is rare occurrence and such an achievement bodes well for his ambition of turning professional after he leaves school.

?I?ve wanted to be a professional cricketer for a couple of years and everybody around me at school is very supportive? he said.

?I?ve spoken to quite a few people about it, including the school coach Frank Hayes (formerly of Lancashire and England), and they have given me a lot of encouragement. At the moment though, I just want to concentrate on getting into the Leicester Under 19 team. Plus I am now a senior player in the school side so I want to contribute there as much as I can.?

But as with every other Bermudian cricketer in or on the fringes of the national team, the World Cup has never been far from Kelly?s mind.

He will still be only 18 in March next year, when Bermuda travel down south to take on the might of India and Pakistan.

But it would take a brave man to rule out the possibility of Kelly being involved to some degree in Trinidad. Captain Clay Smith has made no secret of his admiration for the youngster and has watched him develop at close quarters at St. David?s.

?I haven?t spoken to Mr. Logie about the World Cup or my involvement with the national team,? Kelly said.

?Having spoken quite a lot to (Bermuda Cricket Board chief executive) Neil Speight though, I know that I am part of their overall thinking and it is up to me to go on and prove that I am worthy of a place.

?I know my bowling has come on in the last couple of years and I?ve worked hard on my batting so I now think of myself as a bowling allrounder. But obviously the World Cup is right at the top of my priority list and everything I do from here on in will be geared towards winning a place.?