As some of the newer members of Bermuda's senior national squad have discovered in Holland this week, life can be very difficult playing at this level.

Yet while the Island's current tour of Europe might have been a rude awakening for some, skipper Irving Romaine said he has been impressed so far by the level of enthusiasm shown by those making their debuts.

"They came out of Bermuda not knowing what they were getting themselves into and realised the level they are now playing at is a big jump from what it's like back home," he said.

"At home you can always wait for the bad ball and put it away. But at this level you are not going to get too many bad balls and so you must learn how to score runs off good balls. And I think some of the new players struggled to get runs off good bowling."

Bermuda take on the Dutch today in Rotterdam in the first of two ODIs, with Romaine and his team-mates determined to put past failures on tour behind them.

"Overall I think the guys have learned valuable lessons, and we can only go up from here," Romaine added. "We had some good points in our last match (Intercontinental Cup) and I think that we are a strong enough team.

"But it's a building process and I think the guys need to be exposed more to this level of cricket." One player Romaine singled out for special mention was pacer George O'Brien Jr. on whom he will again pin his hopes in today's match to make early inroads with the new ball.

"Hopefully he can continue to go from strength to strength and be a major threat," he said.

O'Brien tossed down 32 overs and seized five for 116 with four maidens in a losing cause against the Dutch earlier in the week.

"That was an amazing feat; George bowled excellent," Romaine acknowledged. "Everyone knows he has always had the talent, and now he's proven it again."

Bermuda's attack could also be bolstered by the arrival of England-based off spinner Chris Lonsdale who was scheduled to practise with the team yesterday in Rotterdam. The 19-year-old, who was born in Bermuda, is studying at Manchester University and is a product of Loughborough Grammar School, where he captured 36 wickets in 15 games last season. He has represented the county of Nottinghamshire at all junior levels from Under-11 to Under-19.

In a statement, the Bermuda Cricket Board said Logie had called up Lonsdale in the light of growing concern about the tourists' ability to field 11 fit men in the two one-day games. For the same reason, batsman and back-up wicketkeeper Roderick masters has been asked to stay with the squad for the remainder of the tour, rather than return to Bermuda next Tuesday. It was unclear at press time last night whether injured all-rounder Jacobi Robinson had been declared fit to resume playing.

Vice-captain Stephen Outerbridge will undoubtedly be looking to make his presence felt at the top of the order after failing to trouble the scorers in both innings of Bermuda's recent Intercontinental Cup match loss to the Dutch.

Veteran campaigners Dwayne Leverock and Romaine will both look to stretch their impressive form with either bat or ball, while big hitters Lionel Cann and James Celestine are both overdue for a big knock.

All rounder Arthur Pitcher Jr. looked solid at the crease in his last innings, but will have to find a better line if he is to garner any success with the ball, as will fellow seamer Ryan Steede who also toiled in vain in Amstelveen.

Wicketkeeper Jekon Edness has been tidy behind the stumps and promising at the crease while fellow opener Dwight Basden - among those making their debuts on tour - scored 22 off 68 balls during his last visit to the middle to prove he is capable of hanging around long enough to see the shine off the new ball at this level.