By Jamie Lillywhite

Kelly took 3-47 against Scotland in the World Cricket League

That antiquated dog-eating-homework excuse may not work for wayward students these days but few can have as good a reason as Stefan Kelly has for missing studies.

There would be no fabrication if he said to a teacher: "I won't be in for a while, I'm off to play in the Cricket World Cup."

Eighteen-year-old Kelly is taking a break from his scholarship at Oakham School, near Leicester, to compete for his native Bermuda in next month's Caribbean carnival of cricket.

He is currently involved in a warm-up tournament in Antigua, which also features Canada and Bangladesh.

And the young speedster could find himself bowling at the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene, with Bermuda's first World Cup match against Sri Lanka on 15 March.

As if that were not enough, Indian superstars Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid will be his next opponents.

"Friends ask me how I can be calm but I just look on it as a challenge," he told BBC Sport.

I don't want to be the next Freddie Flintoff or Brett Lee, I want to be the first Stefan Kelly Stefan Kelly

There are approximately 70,000 people resident in the 20 square miles of Bermuda, and there is a notable buzz of anticipation that their team is to compete on the biggest cricketing stage.

"The whole island is excited for us," Kelly enthused.

"They are fully behind us and know that we are going to give everything for them.

"They have been aware of the World Cup since we qualified really, the Bermuda team has been in the papers most days."

It is another feather in the cap for Oakham School, who have already produced an international cricketer in England's Stuart Broad, who played in the same team as Kelly for two seasons.

"I knew from the first time I saw him he was going to make it, there was just something about him," Kelly said of Broad, who spoke to him last week whilst on tour with England A in Bangladesh.

Although Broad is a useful ally, Kelly is determined to follow his own path.

"I watch a lot of players but I don't want to take after one player, I take different bits from different players and try to get my own style.

"I don't want to be the next Freddie Flintoff or Brett Lee, I want to be the first Stefan Kelly."

I want to bowl at the death because I can bowl a lot of variation like cutters and slower balls Stefan Kelly

Kelly's international career began in ignomious fashion against Kenya in November, when three overs cost 34 runs.

"I'm not sure what happened, I had trouble taking up a line early on, and I was getting frustrated with myself more than anything, which is why I didn't perform," he said.

"Now if I feel I'm getting frustrated I just take the extra second to calm myself down."

He is still not a permanent fixture in the team but showed his composure in taking 3-43 in an upset victory over Scotland in Nairobi earlier this month.

Unlike many young bowlers, Kelly is aware that sheer pace alone will not be enough to succeed in the very highest echelons.

"Sometimes I can push it through, especially in England, but I want to bowl at the death because I can bowl a lot of variation like cutters and slower balls."

Kelly is due to return to Oakham after the World Cup but admitted: "I might need a couple of weeks to recover!"