Bermuda's national cricket team awoke yesterday to the shock of what Canada is perhaps most famous for.. .cold, cold and more cold. And after a late morning training session 14 members set off on a shopping spree for garments to warm their well chilled bodies. "It's cold here man, very cold,'' said coach Winston Reid from the more temperate clime of the team hotel in Toronto.

"It wasn't cold to the extent that the guys couldn't hold the bat properly or anything, but the fact that we just left home at 80 degrees and came here where it's in the 50s.. "Hopefully tomorrow will be a lot warmer, that's what we've been told and if that's the case we will feel a lot better.'' Regardless, the team will have to remove their minds from concerns of climate to that of live opposition as they tackle Argentina today during their first match of the Americas Regional Tournament. While mystery still surrounds the manner of turf that will greet them the coach has a singular expectation. ..victory. "We're looking to win...that's number one,'' said Reid.

"That's how we have to approach it. "We're playing on turf for the first few matches and we don't know how the wickets are going to be, but most of the wickets appear to have a lot of grass on them.'' Reid is occupying something of a caretaker role with the squad while the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control finalises details of a contract for the new national coach. The former Somerset and Bermuda opening batsman and left-arm spin bowler added that he is stressing national pride and dedication to his charges as they face a stern test, one that will offer assessment as to how they might fare at next year's ICC Tournament, also in Canada. "Without national pride that nothing can happen, so national pride is very important,'' he said. "Don't say it, just do it! "After that it's commitment. We need fellows to be committed. We're only here for a week, so what we have to do is give our all and see what we can do. I'm convinced we can win this tournament, but we must be committed.

"This is a big tour and judging from how we do in this tour we can probably tell how we will go on and play in the Red Stripe Bowl in October. "Beyond that, what's most important is that we have to come back here for the ICC (Tournament).'' Of most concern to Bermuda out of the foursome of United States, Cayman Islands and Canada are the hosts, who, obviously, possess home advantage based on familiarity with the conditions. Charlie Marshall will captain the Bermuda team, with Clay Smith or Janeiro Tucker set to act in the vice-captain's role. Smith and Lionel Cann were due to link up with the rest of the squad yesterday following a tour of England with St. David's.

Bermuda: Charlie Marshall (captain), Clay Smith, Janeiro Tucker, O.J.Pitcher, Lionel Cann, Dennis Pilgrim, Kwame Tucker, Curtis Jackson, Wendell White, Stephen Outerbridge, Mackie Crane, Herbie Bascome, Justin Robinson, Hassan Durham.