they can get down to work with their new coach Roland Butcher.

The Barbadian-born former England Test player accompanied the team to the Red Stripe Bowl in Antigua and Anguilla last month and afterwards returned to England.

Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president El James said this week that Butcher would arrive in Bermuda "by the end of the year''.

Asked whether the coach's arrival date was soon enough for him, James added: "We have to give the man time to make the adjustment. He has a house and family and a lot of things he needs to sort out.'' The Island team, which gained their first-ever Red Stripe victory by trouncing the Cayman Islands this year, are now preparing for the ICC Tournament in Canada next year -- their chance to qualify for the World Cup.

Bermuda will play in Group B where they will face Ireland, Denmark, Hong Kong, United States and Papua New Guinea.

In the Red Stripe Bowl, the US side managed to defeat Barbados and even though their Caribbean opponents fielded a somewhat depleted side, the result will serve as a warning that the US will be no pushover.

Butcher is married with two children and beat out around 15 other applicants to get the job.

As well as playing for England, he represented Middlesex in English first-class cricket for 19 years and also played Shell Shield for Barbados.

His coaching resume includes spells as MCC staff coach, Grenada national coach, Tasmania player-coach and coach of Westminster public school in London.

Butcher is also an experienced soccer coach and has worked with English Premier League club Arsenal.