Bermuda's 2011 ICC World Cup qualifying preparations are set to shift into high gear with senior national squad members to be put through their paces during a month-long tour in the Caribbean.

A 14-member squad will arrive in the West Indies later today where they will come up against local opposition from Trinidad, St.Lucia, St.Vincent and Grenada.

Vice-captain David Hemp, wicketkeeper/batsman Jekon Edness and batsman Stephen Outerbridge will join the squad later during the tour.

Star batsman Glenn Blakeney (back and shoulder injury) and fast bowler Stefan Kelly (school commitments) have been ruled out of this month's tour of the Caribbean.

Upon their return from the Caribbean at the end of next month, the Island's senior national squad is to be trimmed to 15 before before heading off for final World Cup preparations in South Africa in mid-March.

Bermuda skipper Irving Romaine expects competition for places in the team to be fierce over the upcoming weeks and has urged all squad members to put their best foot forward in the Caribbean.

"Four players will be dropped from the team when we return from the Caribbean and so this tour is going to be all about selecting yourself," he said. "It's going to be a very intense tour but I think competition for places is a good thing."

Meanwhile, The Royal Gazette can confirm that ex-West Indies Test bowler Colin Croft did offer his services to assist with Bermuda's World Cup qualifying preparations as either a "bowling coach" or "fitness trainer".

A copy of Croft's resume was forwarded to national coach Gus Logie and Bermuda Cricket Board vice-president Allen Richardson by this newspaper at Croft's request.

"This guy should be coaching England or the West Indies!" Richardson told The Gazette after receiving a copy of Croft's resume.His resume is impressive, but at the moment I don't know what the Board's plans are."

Earlier this week coach Logie denied neither he nor the Board had been approached by Croft.

Also earlier this week it was incorrectly reported that Ryan Steede was sacked as St George's skipper last season when in fact he resigned.

Bermuda squad: I Romaine (capt), D Hemp (vice-capt), R Trott, K Hodsoll, D Leverock, J Tucker, G O'Brien jr, T Tucker, D Borden, F Crockwell, L Cann, C Douglas, J Robinson, J Pitcher, K Hurdle, J Edness (wk), S Outerbridge.

Travel Itinerary

Trinidad

Trinidad and Tobago Under 23 XI, February 2

Trinidad and Tobago Under 23 XI, February 3

W Connection, February 5

University of T & T, February 5

St.Lucia

SLU XI, February 10

SL Premier League champions, February 13

SLU XI, February 15

St.Vincent

February 17 to February 20, teams to be announced.

Grenada

President's XI, February 24

Under 23 XI, February 25

President's XI, February 27