Hong Kong coach Charlie Burke feels his side are more than ready to take on the five teams it is set to face for Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 3 that begins in Hong Kong on 22 January.

�We�ve been lucky as we�ve been playing a lot of cricket in the lead up to this tournament, including playing in the Asian Games, albeit in the shorter format, but the opposition we�ve faced has been strong and playing on a big stage against the likes of Afghanistan amongst others has really helped us prepare for Division 3.

�We�ve just come back from a tour of Sri Lanka where we played three games against strong domestic teams and we won two out of three of those games. It�s the first time we�ve had wins in Sri Lanka which to me is an extremely positive sign ahead of this tournament. We�ve also had turf practice nets put down now in Hong Kong which has been a huge plus for us when it comes to training,� he said.

Burke, who took over the role of head coach in May 2010 feels he has a good knowledge of all the teams competing especially Papua New Guinea whom he worked with in his previous role as the ICC East Asia-Pacific Development Officer.

�I have a very good knowledge of the PNG side having worked with them during my former role with the ICC EAP office. In regards to planning for the other teams, I�ve seen recent footage of the USA and we�ve done our homework on Denmark too. I suppose Italy and Oman are the interesting teams as we don�t know too much about them. It�s about growing from strength to strength with this tournament and playing each game as it comes.

�I feel we�ve got a good squad who are young and prepared for this event. When I took over the side the average age was 29, we�ve reduced that now to 21 which is good sign for the future of the game in Hong Kong,� adds Burke.

Burke feels he has a good range of ability to work with his side starting with his batting line-up, �Out vice-captain Courtney Kruger, who is a right-handed batsman is definitely one to watch for this tournament. I�d also say Mark Chapman who is just 17-years-old, he was our highest run-scorer in Sri Lanka and is technically very sound for someone so young.

�Then when you look at our bowlers, the Ahmed brothers � Irfan (in photograph above) and Nadeem � are the ones to watch in our side. Irfan is a great strike bowler, who knows how to bowl with great pace and Yorkers which his brother Nadeem knows the conditions here and gets some good spin. I have to say all four of those players have really stepped up a notch for us ahead of this tournament and it�s great to see ahead of the first match on 22 January.�