WHEN Bermuda’s players step out for the first of two back-to-back one-day internationals at Sedgars Park in this small town about an hour’s drive south of Johannesburg this morning, it’s probably fair to say that most will never have played at a better venue.

From the playing surface to the changing rooms to the dining facilities to the media area, the stadium is nothing short of spectacular.

Opened just six years ago, the ground also boasts an expansive net and training area, a state-of-the-art gymnasium, a fascinating cricket museum, a glorious pavilion, as well as corporate hospitality cabins dotted around the perimeter of the field.

From the pavilion summit, an area set aside exclusively for the press, the view over the bowl-like arena is simply stunning.

Without exaggeration, it could be said Sedgars Park compares with any Test venue in the world.

Used during the last World Cup hosted by South Africa, it has since hosted numerous One-Day Internationals as well as a Test match between South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Following this week’s matches involving Canada, Holland and Bermuda, it will play host to India in a one-day game against a South Africa Select.

If the National Sports Centre trustees ever wanted a model on which to continue their development of the North Field, they could do worse than pay a visit to Potchefstroom.AND talking of the NSC, it appears that Bermuda could come under more pressure next year to begin hosting One-Day Internationals and four-day first class matches.

Following next year’s final of the Intercontinental Cup between Canada and most likely Scotland or Ireland, the format of the competition will be changed once again to encompass just one group involving eight Associate nations, all playing each other on a round-robin basis with the eventual top two teams meeting in the final.

But if Bermuda want to be involved they might have to guarantee the availability of a suitable venue, with the ICC reportedly keen to ensure that every country taking part host at least one match.

While the NSC pitch has in the past been deemed unfit to hold a first class game, the use of a special type of glue to help bind the soil, already a proven success in Bermuda and elsewhere, might be the solution.FOLLOWING the conclusion of the current five-week tour next week, Bermuda’s players will have little time to recuperate, with a training camp in Trinidad scheduled early in the New Year and then a return trip to Kenya for World One-Day League matches against the likes of Ireland, Scotland, Holland and Canada.

But don’t be surprised if there’s a change of plan.

A final decision on whether Kenya is fit to host the World League games isn’t expected until early next month following a recent ICC ground inspection in the East African country revealed certain improvements would have to be made if the games were to go ahead.

While ICC officials are remaining tight-lipped, rumours abound that the competition could be moved elsewhere, with Dubai, Namibia and South Africa mentioned as possible alternatives.