is a complete fallacy and they wish to prove beyond doubt this year that they belong among the top echelon of the Premier League.

Cleveland were denied a spot in the top four and the accompanying berth in the Camel Cup when the BCBC ordered a controversial replay of the league match between St. David's and Devonshire Rec.

A match initially won by the Islanders was annulled and they refused to show for the mandated replay, allowing Devonshire to take the points and bump Cleveland from the elite group.

"As far as I'm concerned we finished fourth last year,'' said player/coach Allan Douglas, who with skipper Peter Philpott form the lynch-pin of the Harris Bay outfit. "We did well and we look on improving from that standing last year and also grab a trophy along the way.

"It's not impossible, I think we have had one of the most consistently good teams in the Island the last couple of years.'' Indeed, Cleveland have been able to retain virtually the same nucleus for the past several years and it appears that they have ripened to the point that they must be considered serious challengers for honours.

The bowling is loaded with an emphasis on spin where there are the likes of ICC team member Del Hollis along with Curtis Jackson and wily veteran Johnny Richardson. Diallo Sharrieff and Peter Philpott will lead the attack, with Philpott also capable of bowling spin later in the innings.

On the batting side there is Douglas in the middle order as the most recognizable, while Jermaine Postlethwaite, Jackson and Philpott can also swing the lumber.

But it is the often overlooked Aaron Adams who stands out in Douglas' opinion.

"Aaron is one of the better bats on thee Island,'' he said. "he plays within his limits and has a very good mental approach, but he is not often recognized for this.'' NATIONALS With any hopes of regaining the services of former players Bruce Perinchief, brothers Jason and Darrin Lewis and Mark and John Ray dashed, Nationals will soldier on into the 1994 season with several question marks.

Can they carry on the good work done by Darrin Lewis two years ago when they gained the respect of the other team, or will they slump into the lower depths of the division? New captain Neil Speight has no doubts the team can hold its own against the big boys.

"I'm happy with the talent we've got and we're looking to be competitive,'' said Speight. "I'm really looking to re-establish the club at the moment, so I'm not in a position to say well `we're in a position to finish in the top four or win this, that and the other', we'll just go out and play as a group.'' Likely to open the batting for Nationals is Gary Knight a former player in the Premier League before reverting to Commercial League play when Nationals folded. His partner could be Graham Strange, who is said to have once played in the Yorkshire League in England.

Antoine Russell and David Gibbs were named as the probable front-line bowlers in terms of pace, with Russell coming over from Hamilton Parish after enduring an injury-plagued 1993 campaign which included knee problems while Jamaican Gibbs, the faster of the two, makes his introduction to the local scene.

Speight was wary of the local conditions and the effect it may have on some of the England born teammates.

"The adjustment to Bermuda cricket is quite different for any English guy coming out here. The ball comes on faster and bounces more and the whole atmosphere is different.

"We've had some good net practices, but that can be completely different from what you find in actual game conditions.'' After failing to field a side last year just to be included is a bonus thus 1994 can already be viewed as a success for the club who will also find themselves back in the Central Counties.

WARWICK The appointment of big Elvin James as player-coach is something that the club is hoping will help them to revitalise their overall cricket programme. Along with James coming out of retirement to lend his hand to improve on their last place finish a year ago, Warwick are also counting on several youngsters to help them in their bid to gain some lost respect in the Premier Division.

They have been struck by the departure of last season's skipper Hoyt Zuill back to Western Stars and batsman Kallan Johnston to PHC, but acting captain Trent Lightbourne remained optimistic that Warwick will be an improved team.

"We are just hoping to do better than we did a year ago,'' said Lightbourne who will deputise only in the season opener.

"We have pretty much the same team we had last season, we are just hoping that the players are able to pull their weight. We have a lot of youngsters who we would like to see develop, our aim is to rebuild and simply win a few games.'' Warwick have not even appointed a full-time captain, but Lightbourne said that when James returns to the island from his vacation all of this should be sorted out.

In addition to the presence of James, they are counting on the continued development of their young fast bowlers Daniel Caines and Daniel Morgan. James will also help out in the bowling department and his big hitting will help boost their batting.