Bermuda?s historic triumph yesterday over USA drew praise from some of the Island?s former top cricketers who previously performed on the ICC Trophy stage.

A Janeiro Tucker-led Bermuda avenged a five-wicket loss to USA nearly a year ago at the National Sports Centre yesterday in Belfast to book passage to the 2007 World Cup Finals in the Windies., vice captain on Bermuda?s 1982 ICC Trophy squad, exclaimed: ?They have put Bermuda on the map! I am very happy for cricket in the country and I think the boys batted well to make a good total for their bowlers to bowl at. This is certainly a great achievement for local cricket.?, who scored three first class centuries in the UK playing for Bermuda in the 1960s and celebrated his 71st birthday yesterday, stated: ?This is great . . . to see Bermuda cricket back on its feet again. This has brought tears to my eyes and I was always confident they were going to achieve their goal because I observed their attitudes before they left for England.

?This is certainly the ideal birthday gift and I could not have asked for anything better.? , the first Bermudian batsmen ever to score a century at the ICC Trophy added: ?This is wonderful and I am just glad for everyone involved. This is the big one and I think Logie (coach Gus Logie) had a lot to do with the team?s success. He was the missing link and I think he put everything together and it?s just absolutely wonderful.?

Another former Bermuda ICC Trophy campaigner said yesterday?s historic win was the right ?tonic? for local cricket.

?This is really, really exciting. The guys have worked extremely hard and I?m just happy for them and for Bermuda cricket because this is exactly the right tonic we needed at the right time. This is certainly given cricket in Bermuda the boost it needs and now it is up to us as administrators, coaches and other people who help run the game to really take full advantage of this achievement,? he told

?I think now we all need to really put our heads together with everyone working towards a common goal and that?s for the future of Bermuda cricket because these guys have given us more competitions to compete in and also helped to give local cricket a financial boost.

?But it?s now up to us to sit down together and make this work and I am so happy for these guys ? they have done so much for Bermuda cricket just by doing something they do naturally and for fun.?

Douglas? former Bermuda team-mate added: ?I think the whole of Bermuda should be very proud of this team for qualifying for such a prestigious event such as the World Cup. It sort of gives Bermuda their own identity because over the years we have always followed other teams.

?But now we have we have our own identity and as I followed the game I was so proud of this team. Bermuda has finally put itself on the map and I think the whole country should be proud of them. I thought Janeiro batted extremely well and the team has achieved the goal of qualifying for the World Cup.? who represented Bermuda at the 1994 ICC Trophy Tournament in Kenya, commented: ?I?m just ecstatic at the moment! This is absolutely huge for Bermuda. Once they had scored 311 runs I knew Bermuda had done what they needed to do to qualify for the World Cup. Those guys stepped up to the wicket today.

?But looking now beyond the team?s selection, injuries and everything else that took place prior to the team travelling overseas . . . we have to really understand and realise just how huge this achievement is. This is huge for Bermuda and to be honest I?ve already began making reservations for 2007.?