bowler if the national side are to improve at next year's Red Stripe Bowl.

Following successive defeats to the Windward Islands and Guyana over the weekend, which eliminated Bermuda from this year's competition, Reid said there was an urgent need for a top paceman in the side.

While pleased with the team's historic victory over the Cayman Islands -- their first-ever in the Red Stripe -- Reid admitted he was disappointed at their failure to impress against better opposition.

Before leaving his hotel room in Antigua yesterday for the journey home, Reid said Bermuda needed to take a more professional approach to future Caribbean tournaments.

"One thing for certain is that we need a decent opening bowler,'' he said.

"I feel that we have adequate batting and adequate all-rounders in the team, but there is a desperate need for a good pace bowler.

"We need somebody who can give us 10 overs for a cost of around 30-35 runs maximum, a bowler who can bowl good line and length for an extended period that will help us limit the opposing teams to no more than 30 runs during the first 10 overs. If we can get that sort of support, then we will be in position where we can force the batsmen to make mistakes as they look for the quick runs that are needed at that stage of the game.'' Veteran Herbie Bascome and young Mackie Crane were the two pace bowlers in the team this year, the latter taken mainly to gain experience.

However, Reid noted Bermuda's needs were not limited to fast bowling, pointing out that the side as a whole had to become more professional.

They should, he said, concentrate on improving their physical fitness and put more effort towards improving their batting and fielding.

The weaknesses of all players needed to identified and worked on, he said.

And more importantly the governing body of cricket, Bermuda Cricket Board of Control, needed to have the team compete in tournaments in the Caribbean prior to entering events such as the Red Stripe Bowl.

"I believe that we can compete with these teams down in the Red Stripe, but I would suggest that we get into that Leeward and Windward Islands tournament,'' added Reid. "By doing so we could have about five quality games at a higher level before entering the Red Stripe and therefore be better prepared.

"I also feel that next year it is important that we identify the weaknesses of our players and then go back and help them work on them. Our players have to work on their fitness levels, they have big fields in the Caribbean and that requires you to run more than you do in Bermuda. Our fitness level definitely has to be increased going into these tournaments.

"Playing in the heat above 80 degrees, you eventually feel the strain.'' Running between the wickets, said Reid, was another area where Bermuda would have to improve. "There were so many occasions when they settled for twos when threes were there to be taken,'' he said.

"But the trip down here has been a good experience for the players and it was wonderful to see their joy after the Cayman win.

"Regardless if they were one of the weakest teams, the fact remains that we recorded our first-ever win and that gives us something to build on, we hope.''