Gus Logie is not a man easily rattled, but even he was prepared to admit yesterday that Bermuda?s ongoing batting woes are beginning to concern him.

Having endured two consecutive defeats so far on tour in the United Arab Emirates and with not one top order batsman having yet reached 50, the national coach has made it clear that it is time for his players to raise their games.

Against a UAE Development Select XI on Monday in Sharjah, Bermuda lost by the considerable margin of 46 runs. The day after, Janeiro Tucker?s side went down by an equally disappointing seven wickets to another UAE Select, having been dismissed batting first for a meagre 122 on a pitch of inconsistent bounce.

?We?ve had a good talk about it in our team meetings and I?ve been stressing that the top order players have to take more responsibility,? Logie said.

?With the squad of players available to us on this trip we are a little short on batting. Unlike the ICC Trophy team, we do not have a long tail to put together a late-order surge so it is down to the guys in the top six to show a little bit more patience.

?Clay Smith is also not here so we have missed his steadying influence in the middle order. But when you really look at it, we have not batted the full 50 overs in either game yet, which speaks volumes for the lack of application. There is no room for excuses now and I will be looking for improvement in the three remaining games.?

Bermuda take on a stronger UAE XI today in a day-night clash in Sharjah, which is due to finish at 2 p.m Bermuda time.

Logie was not prepared to divulge the squad of 12 picked for the game last night, but he did confirm that Dwayne Leverock would be in the XI having sat out the first two games to give his injured ankle an extended rest.

Leaving aside the flimsy batting displays, Logie has been impressed by all of the younger players that joined the squad on this trip abroad ? in particular the ever-improving Stefan Kelly.

The 18-year-old English boarding school pupil bowled with control and pace during a seven-over spell on Tuesday, snapping up the only three wickets to fall as the hosts closed in on Bermuda?s low total with little alarm.

?The good thing about Kelly?s performance was its maturity,? Logie said.

?The UAE batsman were aware that he is a young guy with limited experience and so they went after him in his first over where he went for about 13. But he didn?t panic and he kept on running in bowling quickly, put the ball in the right areas and got just rewards.

?He was by far the quickest bowler on show and I think he will work well in tandem with Kevin Hurdle and Saleem Mukuddem. I?m not too concerned about the bowling ? it?s the batting that must get better soon if we are going to be competitive.?Bermuda v UAE XI in Sharjah (day/night)Rest day/net sessionBermuda v UAE XI in Abu DhabiRest day: Return Bermuda