New cricket coach Gus Logie's initial report on Bermuda's national team this week won't have surprised too many who follow the local game.

Having had just over a week to take a close look at his new charges at a training camp in Trinidad, the former West Indies Test player and coach's assessment was much like that offered by many of his predecessors.

In a nutshell, Logie agreed there's an abundance of talent in the squad and boundless enthusiasm, but a lack of knowledge or willingness on the part of certain players on how to best utilise that talent.

Our batsmen hit the ball mighty hard, but not always at the right time or in the right place.

How many times have we heard that in the past? How many times in major international matches have Bermuda's best bats thrown their wickets away in search of quick runs when a more circumspect approach to the game would likely have reaped much greater reward.

In their second outing under Logie against a local select in Trinidad this week - they won their first game - the Bermuda boys were bowled out for a paltry 70.

They were up against some accomplished bowlers, and to be fair these practice games were probably the first any of those in the squad had played since last season. So not a great deal can be read into the final results.

But Logie obviously saw enough to realise he has his work cut out if he's to successfully guide Bermuda through this summer's ICC Trophy in Ireland where the top five of 14 teams will advance to the 2007 World Cup.

Some cricket observers in this country believe, with five teams qualifying, this could represent Bermuda's best ever chance of taking their place in a World Cup finals.

But it's difficult to see what prompts such confidence.

Those players in the current squad who competed at the last ICC in Canada four years ago and Logie, who's seen his fair share of international cricket, will probably be the first to admit that Bermuda face an enormous task.

For a start, despite the current camp in Trinidad and the warm-up matches planned between now and July, it's unlikely any of the teams will travel to Ireland as inadequately prepared as Logie's squad.

Most have been playing on the international stage consistently since the last ICC tournament ended, and most have had a full-time coach on board throughout that period.

Logie has a lot of ground to make up.

Yet that said, there has been much in Trinidad that will have impressed the new coach - such as the ageless Charlie Marshall who cracked a half century in Bermuda's opening game, two four-wicket hauls from Dwayne Leverock and some impressive pace bowling from Kevin Hurdle.

What has perhaps impressed Logie most is the players' apparent willingness to learn and to improve.

With his experience and tactical savvy and the undisputed talent at his disposal, there's no reason why he can't mould together a team capable of upsetting the odds in Ireland.

If he can instil a deeper sense of discipline and rid the team of the many bad habits which have so often proved their undoing in the past, it could happen.

- ADRIAN ROBSON