WHEN Bermuda cricket coach Gus Logie and the other coaches from the ICC Associate members get together they find out what they have in common — and what differences they face with their respective teams.Logie and the other coaches will meet up together in Kenya when the World Cricket League starts on Monday but the Bermuda coach said that they all got together last September in London.

"We all know each other quite well now," said Logie this week.

And he said in official talks as well as chats over dinner and the like, he comes to appreciate what they are up against and vice versa.

"There are differences in what we have to deal with," said Logie.

"We see each other on a regular basis and as Associate coaches we do have think tanks and try to come up with strategies on how to improve our respective teams. There certainly has been a lot of co-operation among all the coaches from the Associate countries and it has worked out pretty well. Last September we got together in London and then went to Scotland for a few days as well."

One problem that all the Associate coaches face was the amount of commitment they can get from the players.

"One of the problems we found we all faced was the level of commitment from the players. All the other coaches as well as myself ask for a high level of commitment from the players and it does become a problem because cricket is not a profession for most of the players in the Associate countries. It is something we have all discussed together and it helps," said Logie.But there was one aspect that Bermuda was far ahead of compared to the teams from Ireland, Scotland, Holland, Canada and Kenya.

And that was the amount of funding that has been splurged on Bermuda's players. While Government is putting in a massive $11 million into the team, the sides from the other Associate countries are struggling for funding.

"One of the things we are fortunate to have is that we have had a lot of funding while a lot of the other members have been struggling with their funding. So in that area we are miles ahead," said Logie.

"But," he added, "where we are scoring low is in the numbers that we have. That has been one of the difficulties here in Bermuda compared to other Associate members.

"The other countries do have a wider pool of players to choose from — not only in terms of locals but also in terms of expats or people who live in those countries and can play for them. That is where they have an advantage over us."

While Bermuda has faced Canada, Kenya and Holland recently, Logie said he will be looking forward to coming up against Scotland and Ireland at the World Cricket League matches in Kenya starting on Monday.

"The last time we played against those guys was when we played against them in Ireland in 2005 (ICC Trophy) when we qualified for the World Cup.

"I like to think that we have grown since that summer of 2005 but we also must remember that they have probably grown as well. I believe that as a team we are a lot more capable now than we were then," Bermuda's West Indian coach said.

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A look at the coaches from the Associate member countries who Bermuda will face at the World Cricket League>

HOLLAB>

<$f"Wingdings-Regular">q Holland's coach is Peter Cantrell who was born and raised in Australia. For four years he represented Queensland in the Sheffield Shield. He also took two catches as substitute fielder in the 1990-91 Brisbane Test against England. An attacking right-hand opening bat, and successful offspinner, he contributed a vital 43 not out in Holland's defeat of South Africa in 1994. He also made 112 not out against Glamorgan on the 1995 tou***

CANADA

<$f"Wingdings-Regular">q Canada's coach is Andy Pick. He took on the task of moulding the England Under-19s into future stars in October 2003. So far he's helped them to two World Cup semi-finals. He is now on a year-long sabbatical with Canada whom he will take to the World Cup in March.

The Canadian board is delighted to have bagged his services, and has already heaped praise on his "very special enthusiasm".

Pick started out with Nottinghamshire as a fast bowler, and hit the heights of England A. After finishing at Trent Bridge in 1997 he spent two-and-a-half years as the cricket professional in Bedford School, where he helped to nurture Alastair Cook who was, naturally, in the first XI by the age of 13.

He continued to bring on talent when he accepted the position of national coach for the North East in 2000. Three years later, after a reshuffle, he became the Under-19 co.

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SCOTLAB>

<$>Scotland's coach is Peter Drinnen who played five matches for Queensland before moving into coaching. In 2006 he was appointed as Scotland's national coach after a spell as Cricket Scotland's technical director.

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LAND

<$>Ireland's coach is Adrian Birrell who has already told the Irish Cricket Union that he will be taking the option of ending his contract following the World Cup in West Indies in March.

Birrell, 45, from South Africa, has been in charge of the Irish side for the last four years. However Birrell explained that his coaching role is becoming difficult to share with his family life.

"It has become increasingly difficult for myself and my wife Susan to balance two careers when you have two young children. Susan has made great sacrifices to support me in my career path over the past 12 years, and I feel the time is right to repay some of that support. I will be stopping work after the conclusion of the World Cup, but would like to emphasise that the family will be remaining in Ireland, where Susan has a very successful career," he said.

*KENYA

<$>Kenya's coach is Roger Harper — the brother of former Bermuda coach Mark Harper. He was born in Guyana and played for the West Indies, Guyana and Northamptonshire.

After retirement Harper went into coaching taking charge of the West Indies between 2000 and 2003 during a period of transition. He was appointed as the Under-19 coach in December 2005, but quit after a month to take charge of the Kenyan national side.

Associate member coaches discuss similarities, differences