work to be done'' after the country's failure to advance past the preliminary round of the ICC Trophy tournament, strongly disagrees with the notion that the team is getting weaker.

"No we're not, we're still just as good,'' insisted Douglas when contacted yesterday. "This time the batting didn't get off. A lot of teams just aren't making big runs at all. I think we didn't adjust fast enough, particularly to the wickets.

"We are definitely not going backwards. Look at the competitions we are involved in, the Shell/Sandals, tours we have been doing and the preparations.'' In past tournaments, bowling has let the team down but this time it was the batting as only three players passed 50 in the four group matches, with Janeiro Tucker's century rescuing Bermuda from early trouble against Papua New Guinea.

"There is a lot of work to be done,'' admitted the coach.

"We've got to look at the structure of cricket in Bermuda. Are we going to continue to play limited overs or are we going to get into the longer version of the game? "Those things we have to look at because we need players who are going to bat long, and limited overs cricket doesn't really gear your mind to bat long, does it? "The theory is if you've got a good Test cricketer then you've got a good one-day cricketer because the fundamentals don't change. If a batsman can play the longer version of the game, then it's no problem adjusting to the limited overs.'' Indications are this could be the last hurrah at the ICC for senior players like Arnold Manders, Charlie Marshall, Bruce Perinchief, Roger Blades and Dexter Smith, but the lack of talent coming through remains a worry.

Douglas is in favour of making changes slowly, especially with the team involved in the Shell/Sandals again this year.

"You always rebuild slowly, but we have to sit down and decide exactly what we are trying to achieve over the next couple of years and make our move from there,'' said Douglas.

This is Bermuda's sixth participation in the ICC Tournament and the second time they have failed to advance past the preliminary round. The last time was in 1990 but in 1979 and '82 and again in '94 Bermuda came within one place of qualifying for the World Cup.

Now the most they can hope for is a place in the Plate final, probably against the 1994 ICC champions United Arab Emirates.

Bermuda play Fiji tomorrow in one semi-final involving the third-placed teams while the United States meet UAE in the other semi-final. The Plate final will take place on Saturday.