Bermuda begin a three-day journey into the unknown today as the Island?s national cricket team take on an experienced USA side ? seeking to rebound from a recent defeat by Canada ? in the opening day?s play of the ICC Intercontinental Cup Tournament at the National Sports Centre.

But before a ball has been tossed down the overriding concern seems not to hinge on Bermuda?s ability to overcome successive losses to Canada and the US in one-day games over the weekend, but rather with the controversial batting strip at the Sports Centre.

The question currently being asked is can the pitch withstand three days of cricket?

In addition, local cricket fans will be keen to see whether national squad members can rise to the challenge of competing in the longer version of the game with only the experience of four two-day league matches this summer to draw from.

?The wicket is very challenging at the National Sports Centre as it has a tendency of breaking up and the ball lifting up from a good length. In the games we played there we decided our best option was to bat first even though it might have had a bit of moisture on it in the morning,? said national coach Mark Harper.

?By the end of the day the wicket dried out on the top but the ball still lifted quickly off a few spots. It is a bit of a concern but it?s a concern for both teams. And whichever team is capable of exploiting it better will have an advantage.

?But we can?t really concern ourselves too much about the track that is there because we have to find a way to cope with the conditions.?

Although Bermuda?s starting eleven will not be revealed until this morning, Harper disclosed that Bailey?s Bay all-rounder Irving Romaine and Somerset?s David Gibbs had joined the team.

With the fitness of wicketkeeper Jekon Edness (head injury) in doubt, the door has been left ajar for another ?specialist? wicketkeeper to join the fold, revealed Harper.

?We have a few options we are presently considering and haven?t ruled out anything at this point in time. This is a three-day game and it?s very important to include a specialist wicketkeeper in your team. So it is possible someone else could come into the team,? he added.

Skipper Clay Smith, meanwhile, has received the green light to play after experiencing discomfort to his left knee, though gifted all-rounder OJ Pitcher remains listed as ?day-to-day? after injuring his left hand in Bermuda?s Americas Championship match against Bahamas.

?We are still awaiting a report from our physio (Daniel Morgan) but we must first explore our options. The Americas tournament was very demanding and it definitely took a toll on some of our players,? explained Harper.

That aside, Bermuda?s squad should include the bulk of those who saw action in last week?s Americas Championship.

?I think our performance in the tournament (Americas) was very creditable and I am very proud of the way the players performed ? even though I think in the last two games we didn?t play as well as we are capable of playing. If you were to look at it, we could?ve defeated Canada and we gave USA a fright,? said Harper.

?For the type of preparation we?ve had and not playing any competitive games for two years, in all honesty I think it was a very creditable performance? ? a performance the coach hopes will inspire his players to another level today.

Harper added: ?I think we will have to adjust our attitude to the three-day game but at least this year we have had a couple of two-day games. But the players will have to adjust and I think we can be competitive in this game and I expect us to give a good account of ourselves.?

Having rubbed shoulders with their North American counterparts will also have its advantages, said the Guyanese national, now nearing the end of his contract with Bermuda Cricket Board.

?I think the USA are a very competitive team and have a lot of experienced players,? he said. ?But we showed in the game against them yesterday (Sunday) that we are capable of matching them and being competitive ourselves.

?And if we can play to our full potential then I think it is possible we can beat them. But it?s all just a matter of us remaining focused and committed and having the desire (to win) over the next three days. Having played five limited overs matches in six days in hot conditions, it?s going to be a big challenge for the guys to maintain their fitness over three days. But I can assure you our guys will give it their best.?

The first class tournament, in its inaugural year, is designed to offer ICC associate member countries exposure to the longer version of the game.

Countries from four regions ? Africa, Asia, Americas and Europe ? are all playing three-day tournaments with the top team from each region progressing to the semi-final and finals in the United Emirates (UEA) in mid- November.

The tournament introduces innovative playing conditions to international cricket including a points system created specifically for the event.

Teams will receive 14 points for a win in addition to bonus points accumulated while teams drawing or losing a match will receive only their bonus points. In the event of a tie teams will pick up seven additional points.

Bonus points can be accumulated in either innings with a maximum of six batting points per innings awarded on the basis of 0.5 points for every 25 runs scored up to 300 runs. A maximum of five bowling points are available per innings allocated at 0.5 points per wicket taken.

To encourage teams to play for a result, the first innings of each side will be restricted to 90 overs. If that team does not utilise its 90 overs the team batting second can bat for its entire 90 overs plus the overs short of 90 not utilised by the team batting first.

A minimum of 105 overs must be bowled on the opening two days of the match.

Bermuda take on Canada in Toronto from August 13 to 15 in their second Intercontinental Cup match.