Bermuda flagBermuda Squad
Current ranking6 (ICC) 14 (CricketEurope)
ODI record since 2007 World Cup Played 11 Won 2 Lost 9
Group phase schedule 1 April: UAE, Absa Puk Oval
2 April: Afghanistan, Senwes Park
4 April: Denmark, Isak Steyl Stadium
6 April: Kenya, Senwes Park
8 April: Netherlands, Senwes Park
Key playersIrving Romaine, Dwayne Leverock, George O'Brien
Wise Old HeadDavid Hemp
Emerging playersStefan Kelly, Fiqre Crockwell
CoachGus Logie
PreparationCaribbean tour

Generally the weakest of the top six High Performance teams since they qualified for the 2007 World Cup, the Bermudians will need to be at the top of their game if they are to stay among the elite, and certainly if they are to clear the higher bar of one of the four qualification spots this time.

Despite being the best-funded of all the Associates Ð or perhaps because of it Ð they have seldom lived up to their potential, and discipline problems have again raised their head in the run-up to this year's tournament.

Bermuda team (photo by CricketEurope)Coach Gus Logie remains upbeat about his team's chances, however, and clearly hopes that the mix of experience and youth which he has assembled will be able to repeat the achievements of 2005.

There are four survivors of that side in this year's squad: skipper Irving Romaine, Lionel Cann, the veteran Janeiro Tucker, and the team's icon, left-arm spinner Dwayne Leverock.

Along with vice-captain and English county stalwart David Hemp, Cann and Romaine will be at the heart of the batting, but much is expected of 19-year-old lefthander Chris Douglas, who hit 69 on his ODI debut against Canada last August and followed it up with 53 against the West Indies two days later.

Another promising newcomer in the top order is Fiqre Crockwell, who was second to Cann in the aggregates in the side's recent 11-match Caribbean tour, while Stephen Outerbridge, who has not made the most of his international opportunities until now, was second Ð to Cann again, who made 331 runs at 47.29 Ð in the averages for that tour.

Offspinner Rodney Trott was the leading wickettaker, and he is likely to share the brunt of the slow bowling with Leverock.

George O'Brien will no doubt take the new ball, in combination with either Kyle Hodsoll or Stefan Kelly, who missed the Caribbean tour. But Tamauri Tucker will also come into the reckoning for a place in the seam attack.

There will be an early check on Bermuda's chances in their opening game, against their nearest challengers in the group, the UAE.

The draw is something of a two-edged sword: if they start well, then playing Kenya and The Netherlands in their final two group games could be an advantage, but if they slip up early then facing their toughest opponents Ð on paper, at least Ð when the pressure is on might cause them some problems.

At their best, Bermuda play exciting, entertaining cricket, and their supporters will be hoping that Logie's men produce that sort of form in South Africa. But there are plenty of sides breathing down their necks, and they will need to be at their best to retain their place at the top table.