Bermuda skipper Irving Romaine yesterday said his team's hampered preparations in the lead-up to their tour of Africa and Dubai was a factor in recent one-day losses to Uganda and Kenya.

With practice facilities at the National Sports Centre (NSC) off limits due to last month's Music Festival, Romaine and his team-mates were starved of vital net sessions and the opportunity to practise in the middle on turf as, with the exception of Sea Breeze Oval, all remaining cricket venues had closed for the winter football season.

Bermuda began their tour of Kenya promisingly with a slim, seven-run win over Uganda but then lost their next four one-dayers to enter this week's Intercontinental Cup clash with the Keyans on a low.

"That was bound to happen because at the begining of the tour we hadn't even practised at home. We couldn't train in the nets at the National Sports Centre and so everything really came together on the first part of the tour," Romaine said.

"Most of our practice actually took place out in the middle against Uganda because before the one-dayers against Kenya the nets at the Gymkhana Cricket Club had not been prepared for us. Our practice matches to see who does what came on tour against Uganda and so it took time for us to settle down."

Only after Kenya had swept the one day international (ODI) series (3-0) were the Islanders afforded the luxury of practising in the nets, Romaine said.

"Before the four-day game the guys really enjoyed themselves in the nets. Our batsmen all had good knocks and I think this is what is now showing," he added. "It's sad that we didn't any nets or a practice wicket to train on before we went on tour. But we now seem to be clicking and coming along nicely."