matches during the 1994 ICC Trophy tournament in Nairobi, Kenya, but will be treating the newest rendition quite the opposite when play gets underway against Italy on Monday.

Why? Certainly not because Bermuda failed to qualify for last year's World Cup and are looking for a quick fix reversal. But because the elements that are making Kuala Lumpur a veritable sauna dictate that Bermuda should get their runs first and then pressurise the opposition who have already toiled in 94 degree heat, despite overcast conditions, and 100 percent humidity.

"I don't think the people in Bermuda will understand how much you perspire,'' said consultant Bob Simpson yesterday. "... how it is to try and play cricket when every part of your equipment is absolutely saturated and probably sweat is dripping out of trousers and shirts, and gloves have to be changed every 20 minutes.

"It is a mental conditioning process as well as a physical one.'' The national team players were warned of the likely conditions as long ago as the Shell/Sandals Trophy, having been given a sneak preview in the Guyana heat, but Simpson feels the weather here is proving a shock to the Bermuda team's system and is grateful they are in better condition than back in October.

"I think the first thing that was impressive was how the players looked physically compared to how I saw them the first time,'' said Simpson.

"When I left them in Guyana, I left them with certain things I wanted them to achieve and number one was losing a lot of weight and being in a much better physical state than they were then.

"I'm absolutely delighted to see that people like Charlie (Marshall) and Arnold (Manders) who were carrying a little bit of weight, should we say, have really responded well.

"Even with all the warnings we issued the players after having been to Guyana, and they saw how hot it was, I think they were very surprised to get here and find the conditions so very, very different. That has taken a few days to get over.'' "That has not been the only difficulty so soon before the tournament.

"The other problem we have, of course, is getting used to the synthetic wickets. Unfortunately, they have varied. The first one was slow and the second was fast and very good.'' Bermuda got off the mark poorly in a seven wicket defeat to Kenya and for a time looked to be on their way to a hiding against Canada on Thursday before Marshall and Bruce Perinchief turned the tide for a 34-run triumph.

"In general I think they have done well,'' added Simpson. "They were devastated after the loss and they were heading to a similar situation in the match against Canada but fought back very, very well, and I think out of that will come a lot of strength.

"From the overall picture, well obviously we've got to come to terms with the synthetic wickets and we've also got to come up with the best tactics to play on those wickets.

"Bowling is one of them. There have been an extraordinary number of wides in every match. The interesting part about the synthetic wicket is the ball never gets old. So it tends to swing around in this climate most of the day and a lot of the players are having trouble controlling the ball.

"We may even get to the stage where the bowlers are instructed to hold the ball cross-seam until they can get their line and length.'' It appears an experiment which very well may be tried against an Italian team who were on the way to a heavy defeat to perennial tournament minnows Gibraltar in yesterday's practice match before rain intervened.

Simpson believed the opening match to be the time for Bermuda to make a statement.

He said: "I go on holiday to Italy and you don't hear very much about their cricket. I think it's important that we try to take them out of the match as promptly as possible. We've got to bat first and get as many runs as we possibly can and then be as tough as we possibly can.

"Batsman have got to get a big score. We've had too many players get out when they looked as though they were set. It's important in that match that we set a pattern we want to follow for the rest of the tournament.

"And that is making sure the batsmen are tuned to batting for the long time that you need to in this oppressive heat.

"The same applies to the bowling. If we have the chance, we have to make a concerted effort to get them out. If we get them out for 45, that is better than getting them for 110 also.'' The squad had an intensive fielding session yesterday which Simpson felt was needed to reinstill the sense of urgency required to be successful at this level.

It went well with the exception that all-rounder Jermaine Posthlewaite reinjured the knee that was operated on a few years back and will struggle to be fit for Monday.

Pace bowler Roger Blades was also seeking medical treatment for an asthma related bronchial condition, but he is expected to play.

Bermuda will undertake a full length batting and bowling session today before Sunday's opening ceremonies.

BOBBY SIMPSON -- `I don't think people in Bermuda will understand how much you perspire (in this heat)'.