Stefan Kelly knows exactly where he wants to be next March ? right in the middle of the action at the World Cup.

The 17-year-old Oakham School student is currently with the Island?s senior national squad on a ten-day training exercise in Trinidad geared towards familiarising them with local playing conditions.

Bermuda will play 1996 champions Sri Lanka on March 15, 2007 at Queen?s Park Oval in their opening World Cup Group B match. And Kelly, a colt in last year?s Cup Match, has hopes of sharing the new ball in what will be another historical moment in local cricket.

Bermuda qualified for cricket?s premier showpiece last July at the ICC Trophy in Ireland. Kelly did not take part in the tournament, but he did show some impressive bowling during a warm-up match against Namibia at Hastings in England prior to the team leaving for Ireland.

?I?ve always believed Bermuda could do it (qualify for World Cup), it was just a matter of timing. And I always wanted to be around when it happened whether there to watch or actually playing in it,? he told

Now the teenage pacer must find a way to balance cricket with his school studies . . . and cope with sweltering conditions and pitches that can really make life tough in the Caribbean.

?They are really hard (pitches) and I sort of expected that having played before in Jamaica (in 2004),? added Kelly.

?The wickets there are quite similar, the outfields are fast and bumpy and the pitches really hard. They actually make bowling seem a bit harder. You get the ball coming off quicker, but it is difficult at times running in to bowl.

?And the heat is one thing that really gets to me because I am used to playing in cooler conditions in the UK where I am trying to keep warm. Now I?m making a big switch and trying to stay as cool as possible.?

Bowling on a pitch that favoured the spinners on Wednesday, Kelly got off to a slow start before he finally found a good line and length to trouble the Clark Road United openers.

But just as he began to make inroads, the youngster injured his hand fielding to his own bowling.

Kelly?s injury would require attention from the medic, bringing his afternoon to a premature end.

The St.David?s? quickie, due to return to the UK on Monday, has time on his side as he strives to realise his full potential.

?I have gained a bit more pace and I know I can reach another level. I just need to stay focused and get a lot fitter,? he said. ?My aim is to take things one ball at a time and try to pitch it in a good area and let the batsmen either defend it or leave it. To me that is just as good as taking wickets when the conditions aren?t suitable.

?I really would like to be a part of the World Cup, but right now I have to try and keep everything balanced. And my parents and friends have been motivating me to keep trying harder.?