Malaysia came as no surprise to former Cup Match star Clarence Parfitt -- nor his adopted country's 57-run victory that sent Bermuda crashing out of the competition on Sunday.

Yesterday the legendary Bermudian swing bowler echoed similar remarks to those made recently by another former Cup Match star, Noel Gibbons -- other cricket-playing countries were getting stronger while Bermuda continued on a downward spiral.

Parfitt's playing days in Scotland ended three years ago and today he limits his involvement to coaching and as a selector for the Scottish national team.

But contacted by The Royal Gazette yesterday it was clear he had mixed emotions over Sunday's all-important result.

Parfitt said he was thrilled to see the team he had helped prepare for the ICC Trophy reach the quarter-final stage at their first ever attempt, but saddened by Bermuda's humiliating early exit.

"I wasn't surprised to see Scotland defeat Bermuda, not at all,'' commented Parfitt. "Having been involved with the team both as a selector and a coach I never doubted their ability to get by Bermuda.

"I picked them from the start to win the game. Just looking at the way Bermuda were playing one-day matches when I was there two years ago, I expected this sort of result. The so-called top players in Bermuda were not nearly as good as those when I left home 10 or 15 years ago, and I noted with sadness that the overall standard of play had decreased.

"When I was home I couldn't tell if Bermuda were playing limited overs cricket. From what I saw, as far as field placements and bowling tactics and even batting was concerned, it was clear that they needed a coach to be competitive at an international level in limited overs.

"I tried to warn Bermuda in advance and I told (national coach) Allan Douglas recently that the teams in the ICC were working hard and would be tough for Bermuda to beat. I let him know what Scotland had been doing here. We've been taking our preparations very seriously, ensuring that the players were on strict diets and training and doing the right things physically and mentally.'' Parfitt claimed that in contrast to Bermuda, many of the other ICC Trophy countries had been seriously organising the development of their young players, and the results of those efforts were being reflected in Malaysia.

He noted that Scotland had held off from entering the tournament until they were satisfied that they had progressed to the point where they would be competitive at an international level.

In addition to placing emphasis on youth programmes, Parfitt reckoned that playing as many as six English county sides each season had helped Scotland build a sound team for the ICC and other major competitions.

"We have a good programme going here in Scotland. It's all working from the junior level to the senior level and we are so excited when we see this progress. We have worked hard at improving it the last seven years. I know that's something that Bermuda has always lacked, especially since dumping the Shell Youth Tournament.'' Scotland, said Parfitt, had a well balanced team and he expected them to make a big impact in the ICC, if not this year certainly in years to come.

But he said he remained saddened and puzzled that "no genuine effort'' was being made to save the sport in Bermuda.

Parfitt remains disappointed that he was snubbed by Bermuda Cricket Board of Control back in 1988 when he returned home to apply for the post of national coach.

"It was puzzling at the time and it remains so to this day. I had spoken to (BCBC president) Ed Bailey about it. He asked me to come back home to see the board about the vacancy and I did. But when I came all the way back I didn't even get the opportunity to meet them, so I figured that they didn't want my services and I went back to Scotland,'' he recalled.

Now, he says, he is happy in his role as an administrator, club coach, coach of the senior players in Scotland's northern district and assistant coach of the national team.

But he remains concerned about the country that laid the foundation for him to make his name and a career out of cricket.

"Right now it's vital for Bermuda to get a coach to get them back to that high playing level of years ago because it's no secret that they have gone backwards.'' Looking at the Bermuda squad, Parfitt said he was stunned by the decision to leave out all-rounder Lionel Cann who played a full season with Parfitt's team in Scotland and recently signed a contract for two more seasons.

"I was surprised he was not taken. The injury that Bermuda were seemingly worried about is nothing new. He had it all the while he was here with me last year and it didn't prevent him from playing every game.'' CLARENCE PARFITT -- `The so-called top players are not nearly as good as when I left home...'