IT'S been said that there's a subtle difference between the words 'hope' and 'optimism'.

That might be true.

But the national cricket squad who travel to South Africa and Namibia later this month should consider neither.

The bare facts indicate they face a hiding to nothing. For many playing at this level, it will be a baptism of fire.

They'll all no doubt try their very hardest – which hasn't been the case with previous squads who have travelled abroad – but there should be no high expectations.

The purpose of this journey is to gain valuable experience and learn from the opposition.

Bermuda have never beaten Namibia and in the upcoming Intercontinental Shield match, that statistic is highly unlikely to change.

The national squad announced earlier this week contains only a few players with international experience.

A heavy burden will fall on the shoulders of skipper David Hemp, Bermuda's most prolific run getter since he joined the squad prior to the last World Cup.

Similarly, there'll be pressure on former skipper Irving Romaine and vice-captain Stephen Outerbridge. If they don't perform well, then that pressure will increase markedly.

Others in the squad, particularly Malachi Jones, Stefan Kelly, Rodney Trott and to some extent Chris Foggo and Ryan Steede, have had limited experience on the international stage.

Jones and Kelly have never lived up to the potential which was expected of them, nor for that matter have Foggo or Steede.

This will be a chance for them to prove wrong the critics, of which, admittedly, I am included.

As for the rest of the squad, the trip should be an eye opener.

On the hard tracks in Namibia, the fiery pace attack from the home country seamers could be difficult to deal with.

And against a seasoned line-up of bats, bowlers such as Jones, Kelly, Steede, Jordan DeSilva and Jim West will have their work cut out.

Lone spinner Rodney Trott will also face an uphill battle.

Bermuda's goal should be to put up a respectable showing. Anything more would constitute a major success.

While this might be a negative approach ahead of the tour, at the same time it might be realistic.

If the players return with a wealth of knowledge, having learned from their more experienced opposition, then the goal has been achieved.

Without the likes of veterans such as explosive bats Janeiro Tucker, Lionel Cann and Dean Minors, as well as wily spinner Dwayne Leverock, who are either unavailable or have retired from the international game, the emphasis will be on the youngsters they have replaced.

Nobody should expect immediate returns.

Bermuda Cricket Board are planning for the future, as they should, with an eye on the next World Cup qualifiers. Now is the time to begin that preparation.

In a couple of years, Hemp and Romaine may have stepped aside, even pushed aside.

The burden of expectation will have been transferred to those who are about to get their feet wet. Namibia will be formidable opposition.

It's unlikely that neither hope nor optimism will be prevalent in the Bermuda camp at this stage, just a feeling that this could be the first stepping stone in the path for Bermuda's cricket future, hopefully one of considerable success.

* * * *

HAVING retired from cricket, it seems that 'Sluggo' Leverock has turned to golf.

But from his performance in the Amateur Strokeplay Championships at Mid Ocean Club this week, he's got an awful lot to learn, and even then it's unthinkable he'll ever be as successful with white ball as he was with the red one.

In Tuesday's qualifying round he carded a forgettable score of 122 – 15 shots worse than the man who finished second last. By my limited mathematics, that worked out at 51 over par – an average of around eight shots on every hole.

In his Match Play round the following day he was beaten six and five.

If there's any consolation for Bermuda's most successful bowler over the last ten years, it can only get better.

– ADRIAN ROBSON