bowling attacks over the next two weeks.

Big-hitting Wallace is probably the best known player among the MCC side scheduled to arrive on the Island this evening to play a string of fixtures against local sides.

The former Barbados captain is not the only player among the MCC party who has tasted Test cricket.

Zimbabwe all-rounder Paul Strang, a high-class leg-spin bowler and middle-order batsman will also pit his abilities against Bermuda's best.

And one late addition to the side is a player tipped by some to play Test cricket in the future, 21-year-old Australian all-rounder, Ben Oliver.

It had been hoped that former Australian captain Allan Border and ex-Pakistan spin bowler Abdul Qadir would be in the MCC side, but neither were in the end able to make it.

Nevertheless, the tourists will give Bermuda players, preparing for next month's trip to Canada for the ICC Trophy, the challenge of playing against cricketers with a combined wealth of first-class and club experience.

Wallace, 30, has played seven Test matches for the Windies, scoring two half-centuries including a highest score of 92 against England. And he has a century and two 50s to his name in 33 one-day internationals.

During his Test debut in 1997 in Rawalpindi against Pakistan, he had to show another of his talents -- wicketkeeping. Wallace took the gloves from David Williams who left the field with a stomach upset.

An aggressive, right-handed batsman, Wallace, who last played a Test for the Windies on their 1999 tour of South Africa, has hit 10 first-class centuries and averages 35.44.

Strang, 30, has played 23 Tests for Zimbabwe including his debut against Sri Lanka in 1994.

As a batsman he has a respectable Test average of 25.83 and has hit one century. His spin bowling has brought him 70 Test wickets at an average of 35.28. And he once took eight for 109.

Oliver, a product of the Australian Cricket Academy, made his first class debut for Victoria last year.

A tall, gangly player and lively right-arm, fast-medium pace bowler, who has been a regular in Australia underage sides in recent years, he is also a useful batsman, who is particularly strong playing through the off-side.

MCC arrive From Page 25 He has bowled only 25 overs in his short first-class career, taking three wickets at a cost of 45 runs.

The squad includes a number of other players with experience of English county cricket, such as team captain Colin Metson (ex-Middlesex and Glamorgan), Stephen Andrew (ex-Hampshire and Essex), Paul Atkins (ex-Surrey) and Steve Marsh (ex-Kent).

The tourists start their two-week programme with a match against Western Stars at St. John's Field on Thursday.

MCC squad: Colin Metson (captain), Philo Wallace, Paul Strang, Ben Oliver, Stephen Andrew, Paul Atkins, David Goodson, Ian Hampshire, Robin Jones, Bazid Khan, Tim Kirk, Deon Kruis, Steve Marsh. Manager: Richard Luddington. Umpire: John Harris. Physiotherapist: Peter Heseltine.