Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock, the gentle giant of local cricket, is getting ready to bowl them over in the West Indies.

The charismatic Western Stars left-arm spinner has been selected to attend the first-ever Sir Lance Gibbs Spin Bowling Camp in Antigua which begins on Monday.

And the timing of the five-day course couldn't have been better as the Island's senior national team gear up for September's ICC World Cup qualifying series in Los Angeles, California.

Bermuda's hopes for success could very well rest upon Leverock's deceptive arsenal of left-arm spin, which he hopes to improve with the knowledge gained from two of the world's most successful international spinners who will run next week's camp - Test legend Gibbs as well as former Windies off-spinner Clyde Butts.

Leverock is due to depart for the Caribbean early this morning to join 14 other spin bowlers who will also take part in the course.

"I am grateful that I have been selected by the board (BCBC) to go the camp and I am just looking at it as a stepping stone to help enhance my cricket," said Leverock yesterday.

"When I return home I will certainly be passing down some of the knowledge to my fellow cricketers and fellow spin bowlers."

Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president Reggie Pearman said it was vital for the Island to keep sending elite players overseas to help improve and reinforce the national team.

"Dwayne has performed admirably in recent times and has additionally shown the commitment to prepare himself physically for the 2003 season which includes the crucial ICC World Cup qualifying series in September," said Pearman, referring to Leverock's commitment to additional off-season workouts at the Magnum Powerforce Gym.

The five-day coaching course is being led by Gibbs who was the first spin bowler to surpass 300 Test wickets.

He will be assisted by former Guyana and West Indies off-spinner Butts who currently holds the record for the most wickets in the West Indies first-class championship.

The spin camp coincides with the beginning of the West Indies first-class season, and it's anticipated that a number of the participants will get chance to showcase their talents against first-class opposition.