Bermuda are among the beneficiaries of a seven year international programme that could take local cricket to new heights, according to El James, president of Bermuda Cricket Board of Control.

Plans drawn up and approved during a meeting in Toronto, Canada, last week between cricketing nations of the Americas region, officials of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the West Indies Cricket Board, call for a significant number of tournaments at three levels (senior, under-19 and under-15) to be held over an extended period -- something James has been pressing for since becoming head of the board two years ago.

The plans also call for the involvement of the under-19 and under-15 squads in World Cup competitions.

Countries besides Bermuda who will also benefit include Canada, United States, Cayman Island and Argentina.

"We are there at last, we've reached a goal that we have always aimed for,'' an elated James said yesterday. "We are ecstatic with these developments -- to have a full slate of events at age levels going through the year 2000 to 2007.

"After lots of discussion we have put together an Americas Cricket Regional tournament in the Under-15, Under-19 and senior level. We have put together a complete calender of events from the year 2000 to 2007 and that is fantastic.

"It means that all of our national squads will be busy at an international level, something that can do nothing but add considerably to the further development of our players.'' At senior level, the new schedule means that the tournament between Canada and Bermuda that has been held in Toronto over the past two years will now be a part of a regional event involving other countries. It will still be played in Toronto in July-August next year.

The competition will be held in Canada as that country hosts the next ICC Trophy in 2001 and the event will give teams an early chance to play on newly laid turf wickets.

In 2002, also at the senior level, another regional tournament will be held in Argentina while 2003 has been put aside for the World Cup.

And in 2004, because the format of the ICC tournament will change, Bermuda will host a regional ICC qualifying event with the winner moving on to the next ICC tournament to be held the following year.

In 2006 and 2007 additional regional tournaments will be played in the United States and Cayman.

The new under-19 and under-15 calender is almost as busy with a number of similar regional programmes combined with World Cup campaigns for the under-19s starting as early as next January. Initially, however, Bermuda players will only be involved as members of a regional select.

The first official tournament for the under-15s will be held in Bermuda in 2003, while others will be scheduled elsewhere next year and the following year.

"All of this means that the opportunities are being put into place for development. Now we have put together a local structure that will continue to encourage development and give our players the incentive to strive for higher levels,'' said James.

"On the local front all we need is to get our programme better organised and the only thing we see lacking now is a full time coach. We have full time commitments now and that means more work for everybody. This is what we wanted and we have to make the most of it because all of these countries are keen to get into the World Cup or gain one day international status and we have to be right there with them.

"This is a major development for local cricket. It gives us a great opportunity now to get on the world stage. We've wanted more competition, we wanted international exposure and now we have the opportunity to do so and we must take advantage of it.'' James said there was now an urgency to employ a professional full-time national coach.

"We want a full-time coach here. We have a plan that's almost completed. We are working on it diligently and hope to get this in place in the near future, we simply must get our players to this next level.

"Coaching is one area that has been neglected in the years gone by and we have now worked out an agreement with the WICB. Their coaching programme has been recently recognised by the English Cricket Board, so we can now take our people through the three stages of coaching for the junior, senior and advanced level where they can obtain certificates.

"We have already had the junior stage earlier this year, another is scheduled for February and then two senior courses will follow. They will then have to wait a year before being eligible to take the more advanced course.

"These courses are available for anyone interested who wants to get involved.

All are welcome and we are urging anybody interested to contact our office in Hamilton in order to register or obtain further information.''