When and if a history of the Americas Cup is recorded, there are three things about its second staging that won't be debated - the United States' well deserved first tournament win was due to its preparatory trip to Antigua; the Cayman Islands can compete at the Associate level and despite the rain which threatened to wash out the entire tournament, the work ethic of the Argentine Cricket Association and their ability to stage a non-Test tournament is unquestioned.

After a couple of days of excessive hydration in Buenos Aires which prevented any play, the following four days thankfully allowed the tournament to be decided on merit, with United States of America (USA) finishing ahead of Canada, the Cayman Islands, newcomers the Bahamas and Argentina.

In the end only one round of matches wasn't played and although mathematically there were all sorts of last round permutations that theoretically saw the United States, Canada and the Cayman Islands as possible tournament champions, none of the runners-up questioned the United States' supremacy in Buenos Aires.

In the past the USA's performance has tended to reflect its preparation - for once that proved to be a positive.

USA manager, Denis Stuart, said the Antiguan trip had eliminated some issues which affected the Americans' ICC Trophy campaign.

"Last year the players met for the first time at the actual tournament - the players got to know each other in Antigua and as a result played for each other more in Buenos Aires than in the past."

Stuart said that former West Indian Test player Faoud Bacchus was the key to team tactics. "He was very influential with devising strategies before each match."

Jamaican born New Yorker Howard Johnson led a strong American attack, taking 10 wickets, at around 20 balls each, one of many bowlers relishing the damp conditions.

Despite six of the Canadians having to introduce themselves to their team-mates in Buenos Aires, Canada's Queensland based coach, Jeff Thomas, said the absence of so many top liners due to work commitments was not an excuse for losing the tournament deciding match against the USA.

"America just played better on the day," Thomas offered.

He did add the impact of the USA's preparation on their performance was discernable. "They were well prepared with their tour and you could really see it with their fitness levels and match hardness."

Thomas was especially pleased with the form of replacements, Fazal Samad, Ashish Patel and Kevin Sanders. "There were some tough conditions with the weather and wickets but I thought they played well. So did Muneeb Diwan, Ian Billcliff and Barry Seebaran."

Similarly Bermudian coach, Mark Harper, did not attempt to blame his team's showing on the withdrawal of several key players.

"I thought with the material we had we could have had better results but guys like OJ Pitcher who came in gave of their considerable talent. Our batting though was our main concern."

He added the toss was not just decisive in their loss to the Cayman Islands. "It was very important, especially in the early matches. The ball was popping all over the place in the match against Caymans but they had a very good seam attack."

If the United States was the official tournament winner, the other team to "win" in Buenos Aires was the Cayman Islands. Not surprisingly, Caymans coach, Theo Cuffy, was ecstatic.

"I am really, really proud of the guys. Our bowlers were outstanding and our fielding was good as well."

The Cayman Islands will have their Associate membership application voted on in June at the ICC's Annual General Meeting and wins over two Associate members, Bermuda and Argentina, were timely.

Barbadian born policeman Ryan Bovell was the spearhead of an attack which drew respect from all teams in Buenos Aires. No blow-in, Bovell is married to a Caymanian, and has lived in the Caymans for nearly 10 years.

Cuffy said the success of the bowlers inadvertantly affected the batsmen's preparation for the crunch match against Canadian game after dismissing two opposition teams for less than 70.

"The first three games they were not challenged and that hurt us against Canada."

The mainly West Indian born Bahamanian team impressed everyone at their first tournament involving Associate opposition, amongst their admirers, Faoud Bacchus.

"Faoud told us after the tournament we had just as much talent as any in the competition - it was just our application in our batting," captain and one half of a set of brothers who took the bulk of Bahamas' wickets.

Younger brother Garfield and Llewelyn, collectively nabbed 12 wickets with their medium pacers.

"I think we did exceptionally well to knock off an Associate team and there was another game we should have won against Bermuda. The experience was good for us - we just started to play well at the end of the tournament as we don't play on turf wickets in the Bahamas."

Armstrong said the team's performance reflected that of a debutante.

"We were not used to constant pressure when we were batting but I guarantee in our next tournament we will win more games than we lose."

Alas for Argentina, their national team could not reflect the Association's off-field performance in hosting the tournament, which Theo Cuffy described as "fantastic".

Skipper Guillermo Kirschbaum was upbeat despite losing all completed matches, saying the team had shredded its negative self-image.

"I have no doubt my team can beat any of the teams that participated in Buenos Aires. We never performed to the best level we can play. That`s the way it goes with cricket. We now get on the field with the firm and genuine idea of winning. There's no unconcious fear of losing. The important thing is that none of these teams can under-estimate us now. They have to play serious cricket all 600 balls to beat us."

So what were the positives for Argentina?

"Donny Forrester scored two half centuries and Lucas Paterlini bowled really well, great catches were taken all over the field."

The tournament also reflected the increasing reach of the International Cricket Council's Development Programme, with the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas earning the right to compete in Buenos Aires through a qualifying tournament last year also involving Panama and Turks & Caicos Islands.

© ICC 2002