CHELTENHAM -- Cricket in Bermuda is poised to move into the electronic age as a result of the current tour of England.

While the players have been gaining valuable experience on the field, squad officials have been equally busy checking out the latest developments behind the scenes.

Top of the list is an electronic scoreboard and tour manager Reggie Pearman could not rule out the possibility of bringing such a gadget to his own club at Somerset as well as others on the Island.

Pearman admitted to having been greatly impressed by the new technology in use last week when the tourists met the Northamptonshire 2nd XI at the County Ground.

The traditional scoreboard has been modified with the result that each window now carries a digital display operated from a computer terminal in the pavilion. Scores can be updated in a flash, run rates and averages calculated at the press of a few keys and messages sent to spectators in seconds via a one-line screen, which operates in the same way as the much smaller eye-catching devices currently used in banks, post offices and other centres in Bermuda.

The cost of installing just one board would run into tens of thousands of dollars but Pearman is well aware of the ways in which the new equipment would increase sponsorship opportunities, and he said the project will be considered carefully.

"The facilities in England are nothing new to me because I come here three or four times a year, but they are always impressive and I have been taking a look round to see what sort of ideas we can take back home with us,'' Pearman said.

"The scoreboard was very interesting and I have made inquiries about cost and suppliers but obviously there is a long way to go before we will know whether the idea will work in Bermuda.

"There are other areas which I have been looking at, from pavilions right down to the current style of sheet used by the scorers. Somerset is one of the best clubs in Bermuda but we are always looking for ways to improve.'' Pearman called for Bermuda's cricketers to try and gain more experience of English facilities and playing conditions by organising their own club tours, and his comments were echoed by team captain Wendell Smith as the majority of the squad watched Warwickshire play Middlesex at Coventry yesterday.

Smith said the players were not worried by the fact that they have lost all five games so far and face a tough final match at Leicester tomorrow. He points to some top quality individual performances as proof that the tour has been worthwhile and that the players have learned a great deal.

Of his own situation, Smith said he was pleased to end his lean run by scoring an unbeaten 89 against MCC Young Cricketers but disappointed that the rest of the team was unable to put together a more challenging target.

He said: "There were some pressure on me to do well but I didn't feel it as much as in the previous game at Worcester. I think the difference was that the match against MCC started later in the day and I was able to have a net before we batted. That helped me settle down so hopefully I'll be able to do the same at Leicester. We will try to get there a little earlier than normal.

"The problems against the MCC came about because we lost wickets in the middle of our innings, just before lunch and again just after. That left Dean (Minors) and I in an awkward position because we had to keep the score moving but we also had to be selective with our shots because we couldn't afford to lose more quick wickets.'' Added the captain: "When MCC batted we made a great start but couldn't keep it up. With hindsight it would have been good to have had Pacer (Anthony Edwards) in the side because the wicket was helping the quick bowlers, but the tour is more about learning than winning so it is important to make sure everybody gets a fair chance. Some might say that policy has cost us a couple of matches on this tour but we are thinking more about the long term.'' Team manager McDonald Swan spoke of the bowling performance against MCC: "All through the tour the wickets have been playing beautifully but this was a little more green on top and it was good to see Kenny Phillips and Terry Burgess make the most of it.

"If we had known what it was going to be like we would have played Pacer as well. He hadn't had a break all tour but we would have made him wait a little longer because he's been the main strike bowler so far.

"As far as the batting went it was good to see Wendell make some runs but when the middle order collapsed our best chance went. The MCC innings was similiar to ours because they only had one big partnership. Unfortunately their partnership was slightly more productive than ours.'' Smith put on 90 for the seventh wicket with Minors and MCC opener Matthew Church, who was unbeaten on 103, shared a sixth-wicket stand of 122 with Keith Newell.

Yesterday Swan confirmed that Ricky Hill has made a full recovery from the facial injuries sustained when he was struck by the ball while fielding at Worcester. Hill will join the practice session today at the Edgbaston Test ground in Birmingham and will be available for selection for the match at Leicester tomorrow.

REGGIE PEARMAN.