Chairman of selectors Arnold Manders revealed last night what many on the Island had already realised ? all the head-scratching over selection of the Namibia squad concerned the opening batsmen.

Curtis Jackson and Kwame Tucker were drafted into the squad in place of Daniel Morgan and Graham Strange with Chris Foggo also falling under the selection axe due to a lack of run production at the top of the order in the recent Americas leg of the Intercontinental Cup.

The victories over Canada and Cayman ensured that the majority of the team survived, although quickfire batsmen Lionel Cann returned and fast bowler Kevin Tucker was also a surprise call up.

But the headaches came when deciding who would fill the number one and two slots.

"That was where all the decision making came," said Manders, who himself has played twice for Bermuda against Intercontinental semi-final opponents Kenya, winning one, losing the other.

"The openers had just not been producing the runs so we had to make some changes there. We looked at a few options and we came up with Curtis and Kwame.

"They are both players who can score runs and that is what they need. But they are both normally quick scorers so we will be looking for them to curb their attacking mindset for the three-day game.

"The openers are the problem at the moment and we are looking at different options and partnerships to deal with that."

Manders admitted that had Delyone Borden and O.J. Pitcher ? the starters in Ireland in the ICC Trophy ? been available they "probably would have got the nod".

The chairman of selectors and former national skipper, regarded as one of the Bermuda best ever all-rounders, bemoaned a lack of options available to the selectors due to poor attendance at training ? with Glenn Blakeney, Foggo and Dion Stovell all ruling themselves out by failing to show with any regularity.

"Attendance was an issue for us as was availability," continued Manders.

"There were a few guys who didn't make it due to nagging injuries ? we decided to rest them ? while others didn't make it because they didn't show to training.

"I was disappointed in Dion. I personally spoke to him and he said he was interested in coming aboard but then after a while he said he wasn't that interested in the three-day game and preferred the one-day version.

"He then made it clear he was more interested in playing football ? it's just a shame he didn't just let us know that from the start."

But Manders was full of praise for Kevin Tucker, the PHC fast-medium bowler who has proved to be the perfect example of Gus Logie's open door policy as coach.

"I have always been impressed with him since he was a youngster," he said.

"I saw him bowl in the Western Counties and was very quick and showed he is a good, strong bowler. But he also came down to training and showed what he can do.

"He showed all the right things we were looking for and earned himself a place. The same goes for Curtis who probably wasn't in our plans originally.

"Coach Logie has made it clear that if players come to training and show what they can do then there is always a chance they can earn themselves a place in the squad."

Overall Manders said he was happy that this team could do the job required of them when they head down to Namibia in less than three weeks to take on the Kenyans and their skipper Steve Tikolo ? who played against Manders in the early 1990s in the ICC game in which Kenya beat Bermuda in the decider for a World Cup place.

"I think this team will be able to get the job done," he added.

"If the players perform to the level we know they are capable of then we have every chance. Kenya don't really have a lot of pace anymore, although they have a couple of decent spinners. But we do as well and we certainly have potential matchwinners in Sluggo (Leverock) and Hasan (Durham).