They may have been bowled out for a mere 25 three months ago by a bunch of 16-year-olds ? but Bermuda?s female cricketers are still only two wins away from a place in the 2009 World Cup.

Having spent the last three months training and playing matches against local junior sides, a 14-strong national women?s squad leaves for Canada today for three limited overs matches that will determine which country earns the right to represent the Americas region in Australia in just under three years from now.

The Canada trip represents the first time a Bermuda women?s team have ever travelled overseas and also the first time they will play against a team of the same sex.

Producing a definitive squad with a chance of beating the Canadians from a large number of enthusiastic, but hugely inexperienced, women has not been an easy process, coach Allan Douglas admitted yesterday.

In their first competitive game against Somerset Under-16s, the home team racked up well over 300 runs before rolling the ladies over in less than an hour.

But Richardson insisted that they have put that nightmare start behind them and have been working ?incredibly hard? to get themselves ready ? commitment which has inevitably led to drastic improvement, he added.

?After that first game against Somerset things did not look very good at all,? he said.

?But what has really impressed me, I have to admit, is how dedicated most of the girls have been and in the last three months the progress they have made has been nothing short of incredible.

?Some of the girls just joined in because they wanted to lose a few pounds and ended up really enjoying it and staying on. We?ve got no idea what to expect from the Canadians. We?ve tried to do some research into their women?s programme and from what I can see they?re on about the same level as us, so these games should be very interesting.

?The scenario is that if we win two out of the three games, we?re going to the World Cup. It?s a tremendously exciting opportunity which I don?t think has been publicised anywhere near enough.

?At the moment we don?t have a women?s league to speak of, which we really need in order to develop the women?s programme to the extent we would like. But I?m hoping that if we come through against Canada it will act as a springboard to really get the women?s programme up and running.?

Captaining the team is Terry-Lyn Paynter ? the sister of national team fast bowler George O?Brien ? who Richardson believes will have a crucial part to play if Bermuda are to be successful.

?She comes from good cricketing stock,? he said.

?She?s a very talented allrounder and it will be important for her to perform. But there are others such as Brittney Marshall (daughter of former national team star Charlie) and Reuna Richardson who are similarly talented and I expect to do well.? Terry-Lynn Paynter (captain) Linda Mienzer (vice-captain) Brittney Marshall, Reuna Richardson, Maria Peterkin, Antoinette Williams, Carol Edness, Lauren Grant, Lisa Richardson, Rhoda Jones, Jacqueline Bremar, Wendy Woodley, Chevonne Furbert, Charlene Thompson, Roseann Mienzer (manager) Allan Douglas (coach) Michael Thomas (assistant coach) Marionette Zuill (physio)