Despite rave reviews by local cricket officials following the recent tour by the Australian Test team, the sport in Bermuda continues to suffer, a top player said this week.

Just days before he departs for England to join a new cricket team, veteran allrounder Noel Gibbons questioned whether Bermuda Cricket Board of Control officials were genuinely interested in seeing the game here progress.

"I have heard one official say that cricket here is on the up and up, but this was based on the Australian tour. I firmly believe that our cricket is in a sad state,'' said Gibbons.

"It's been heading in the wrong direction for about six years now, and sadly nothing is being done to correct it.'' Gibbons said he was not taking a parting shot at local administrators as a means to discredit the board for slapping three-month bans on three veteran Bailey's Bay players -- himself, Terry Burgess and Charlie Marshall -- suspensions that will prevent them from playing here until July.

He emphasised that the criticism comes because of his great love for the sport, claiming he was concerned that the sport was not producing the interest in the community it once did when he was a young player.

Among the problems suffocating the game's progress, he said, was a lack of ideas and commitment by board officials, poor planning at the administrative level and the glaring lack of a junior programme for the past four years.

"There is so much that needs to be improved on if our cricket is to thrive like it did when I came along as a youngster. I think the entire structure here needs a facelift and I believe that there are too many people in charge who are there just for the ride,'' said Gibbons.

Chronic existing ailments he said are the failure to implement both a Super Eight league and limited overs play this season.

The failure to operate a decent youth league is something that Gibbons feels will haunt the board and eventually have greater repercussions than anybody could imagine.

While he is aware there is currently an attempt being made to get something done about it, the fact that similar bids have proved to be futile has convinced Gibbons this one will be no different.

"We need the Shell Youth Tournament back, nothing less should be accepted.

Every country around has a decent youth programme, but not us here. How can ours just stop like it did?'' he asked.

"There are a few youngsters coming along with some ability in the 19-year-old age groups, but we need to develop those in the 14 to 15-year-old age groups.'' While board officials expressed delight at tours such as the one by the Australians and stated how important it was to give the local players experience and exposure, Gibbons questions their sincerity.

The allrounder argues that, contrary to these views, he and many former players feel the Australian visit following their 2-1 Test series win over the West Indies did little to help develop the players here.

"How could it? As their manager said the only training they did here was drink beer. It's clear that they didn't take the matches seriously, the fact that many non-bowlers bowled backs this up,'' said Gibbons.

"Then I heard a board official say that Bermuda got close in the games and could have beaten the Australians, but there is no way in hell Bermuda can beat them. At least not with the players we have out there today.

"If Australia played to their full potential they would have blown us away.

It's all right to bring these teams here as it gives the locals a chance to see them, but honestly speaking they really only come here for a holiday and just go through the motions on the field.'' It's crazy to evaluate the level of Bermuda cricket by the results from a meaningless game, said Gibbons, noting there were other ways to gauge where the level of cricket here was at.

For example he looked back at the five ICC Trophy competitions that he has played in, citing the fact that teams that Bermuda were beating back in 1979, '82 and '86 were now getting the better of Bermuda.

The type of tours Bermuda needs to benefit the local players is the one similar to that of the young West Indies Select of three years ago, one that had players knocking on the Test team's tour that included Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Cameron Cuffy and Roland Holder.

Gibbons recalled how that team trained regularly for their matches at White Hill field and went into each contest with a serious approach.

"That's what we need, a team like that, one that is probably just a notch above the level of our players where the games are very competitive and everybody taking seriously,'' confided Gibbons.

Arguably the best all-rounder Bermuda has produced in the last 20 years, Gibbons has played in five ICC tournaments and would be prepared to play a sixth, but said this is unlikely because of the age factor.

"I will be willing to play for my country but as you know here it's an age thing, regardless of your ability, if you are a veteran you are not in their plans.

"When it comes to ability I shouldn't have any problems in making the national team.'' Noel Gibbons