the game on the Island when they paid a call yesterday to Lord's.

And the home of cricket was a hive of activity as the tourists took part in talks and practice amid preparations for the second Test between England and Pakistan, which begins at the ground on Thursday.

Tour manager Reggie Pearman met officials of the MCC and the TCCB (Test and County Cricket Board) to discuss further tour possibilities. He also revealed that attempts will be made to contact the Pakistan squad as part of Bermuda's bid to lure the world champion one-day side to the Island next year.

It is no secret that the cricket authorities in Bermuda hope to bring Javed Miandad's side for a series of games to coincide with the Pakistan tour of the West Indies in the winter.

During the current tour, Pakistan have been following Bermuda around the country. They play at Northants this weekend, only days after the Bermuda squad moved on from the English midlands town.

Now they are about to follow Bermuda to Lord's, where tickets for the big match are almost sold out.

Pearman said he will try to make contact: "We have already sent communications to Pakistan about the possibility of them coming to Bermuda next year but we will certainly try and reach them here.

"As yet, we don't know if the people we need to see are with the squad, but we will certainly take the opportunity if it comes along.'' A further boost for Bermuda cricket came with the revelation yesterday from a senior MCC administrator that plans are in the pipeline to improve coaching opportunities for ICC members.

John Jameson, assistant secretary (cricket) at the MCC, said proposals will be presented to the ICC conference at Lord's early next month, which would increase the availability of top-class coaches for non-Test playing countries.

He was not able to reveal full details but said: "It is the committee's policy to take a top-class coach and a top-class umpire on future tours. It will normally be an umpire of Test match standard. We tried it in Argentina and Namibia and now we want to try and extend it.

"There is a lot of expertise within this club and we are trying to find more ways to make it available to the emerging countries.'' MCC's last tour of Bermuda was in 1987 and as yet there are no plans for a repeat, but the men leading the Bermuda party both welcomed Jameson's comments yesterday.

Pearman said: "It's a good idea and it would cut down expenses. Cricket authorities and Government have spent a lot on the game in Bermuda, so we would welcome anything that would help. If more people are going to be available it will definitely be an asset.'' Team manager McDonald Swan commented as he watched the Bermuda players practise alongside the Middlesex first team, an unexpected bonus as it brought the side a taste of top-level training with the likes of Desmond Haynes, Mark Ramprakash, Mike Gatting and John Emburey.

Swan said: "It would certainly be great for Bermuda if more top-class coaches were made available.

"You can tell just from watching the players practise here what a difference it makes to have that sort of experience on hand. We didn't know Middlesex would be here but the players are making the most of it.

"They are watching and learning, and putting things into practice. You can tell just by the way they are moving.'' Bermuda's opponents on Tuesday, the MCC Young Cricketers, were far too busy yesterday to watch any cricket. Ian Botham and Phil DeFreitas are among the Test stars who have emerged from the ranks of the MCC training programme, but as youngsters even they had other duties prior to a Test match.

Each of the 27,500 seats has to be washed, the field prepared and all other facilities checked in preparation for what all hope will be a five-day feast of cricket. At the game, the youngsters will be responsible for selling scorecards, moving the covers and operating the scoreboards.

With the groundsmen working on the Test wicket yesterday, the nearest Bermuda's players came to the hallowed turf was a series of photo calls on the boundary.

Practice took place on the nursery field, a full size area behind the new Compton and Edrich stands and next to another recent addition to Test cricket, the corporate hospitality rooms.

After their opening two games, Bermuda's players could be forgiven for feeling a little confused. In the first, they batted well but bowled and fielded poorly. Against Minor Counties superb work with the ball and in the field was undone by a batting collapse.

Today they move to Guildford to face the Surrey 2nd XI, widely recognised as one of the best sides on the Second XI competition. A tough game is guaranteed but Swan observed: "We are not necessarily here to win. We are here to learn.

"We recognise that the job now is to put the game together. We have shown we can bat, bowl and field well. Now we have to put it together in a package.'' ARNOLD MANDERS -- In action in England.