THE next cricket World Cup may be three years away, but for one former Lancashire player the campaign has already started.

Aussie-born all-rounder Joe Scuderi, who spent two years at Old Trafford, is leading Italy's challenge to join the cricketing elite.

But while England plan for the $20m Stanford showdown, Scuderi and his side are battling Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Jersey, Fiji and hosts Tanzania in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division Four tournament.

Promotion would give one of these cricketing backwaters a possible shot at qualifying for the 2011 World Cup in Asia but Scuderi and his men have a long way to go if they are to meet with the big boys. Even if they do go up, they face a Division Three tournament in Argentina.

"We are not looking too far ahead - our aim is to win the tournament here or finish top two and take it from there," said 39-year-old Scuderi, who is now pro with Ribblesdale Wanderers in the Ribblesdale League as well as coach and captain of the Italians.

"It would be nice to get into Division Three and make it to Argentina and give ourselves a chance to play in the World Cup qualifier but we'll have to play well for that to happen.

Conditions

"This is a big tournament for us. We are playing in different conditions here in Tanzania and it is the team that adapts best that will do well."

Scuderi, who scored 705 runs and took 23 wickets during his career at Lancashire, and his men have made a solid start, losing to favourites Hong Kong in their opening match but then thrashing Fiji by 254 runs on Monday, with the help of a quick-fire 44 from the skipper.

Cricket has been played in Italy since as early as 1793 when Admiral Nelson's sailors landed in Naples. And it was British cricket expatriates around the end of the 19th century who founded AC Milan - originally the Milan Cricket and Football Club - and the first Italian football team, Genoa Cricket and Football Club.

Now Scuderi, who was born in Australia after his Italian parents emigrated Down Under, is enthused about assisting with the long-term development of the game in the country.

"I never thought five or 10 years ago I would be travelling round the world playing in countries like Tanzania and you never know where it could take you next time," Scuderi added.

"It always is a big challenge to play new opposition and it's great to be able to travel the world and play new opposition and enjoy other people's cultures. I am very fortunate.

"We are always on the lookout for players of Italian heritage but it is not just a case of them coming over and playing.

"They need to be able to adapt and fulfil the eligibility criteria - it's not as simple as having a passport and turning up to play.

"You have to do a period of work for the Italian Cricket Federation to be eligible, so you know if someone is prepared to put that effort in they are committed for the long haul.

"Obviously it is important to develop the game in Italy as well as pulling guys from Australia, South Africa or England who are Italian."