Irving Romaine will be keeping himself busier than usual this summer. As well as playing for Bailey's Bay, and preparing for Bermuda's next outing, he will also be coaching the Island's women.

The Bermuda national team skipper has been appointed head coach to the women's senior team, after temporarily taking charge several months ago.

Romaine stepped in during the recent Americas tournament in Florida, when previous coach Peter Philpott was unable to attend, and shared the duties with Arnold Manders, the cricket development director for Bermuda Cricket Board.

With Manders unable to carry on coaching the women's team, Romaine has been given the job on a full time basis, and it is a challenge he is certainly looking forward to.

"I want to get involved in coaching, but this probably wasn't a path I expected to be taking," said Romaine. "When I'm home I'm in the schools, helping with the development programmes, so working with the women was something I expected.

"But I must say through the last two years in the schools we have had girls involved, and it's been rather impressive to see the talent that is coming through with the girls who have taken cricket on board as one of their sports."

This will hardly be Romaine's first foray into coaching. The Bailey's Bay player has been coaching his club side for the past couple of seasons, is waiting for his Level Two results, and wants to pursue a career as a coach when the time comes to stop playing.

"I love being a coach, it's something I definately want to strive towards," he said.

"My goal is to become a coach, and this is getting my foot in the door at the international level."

While the women's team play against men's sides on the Island in the week-day evening league, and at weekends against the under-17s, they won't have another international tournament for two years. When they will again face the likes of Brazil and Argentina in the Americas tournament.

The gap is something of a blessing for Romaine, who puts the side's current skill level alongside that of an under-14 boys' sides.

"It's a challenge, and we're starting to build the programme from the grass roots up," said Romaine.

"They're all learning from step one, but it is growing in popularity with the girls and they are all enjoying it. I'm enjoying it.

"I have two years to put together a team and do very well at the next tournament. It's a two year process.

"Right now I think the up and coming year will be very slow, and I think we'll be hoping for women to come and join the programme.

"The first year will be very simple, we'll put them in the under-14 league next year, because that is around the level that they are playing at, realistically, when compared with the international level."