It's not surprising to hear that even at the age of 55 cricket still runs through the blood of bowling legend Clarence Parfitt.

Long gone are the days when the left-arm swing bowler tormented opposing batsmen, but the sport still remains an integral part of the Bermudian's way of life.

Retired since 1993, the long-time Scotland resident is now giving something back to the sport as development officer in the north of the country.

Always a keen competitor on the field, Parfitt competes these days only on the golf course, battling to lower a handicap which he refuses to reveal. But there's no denying that cricket is still number one for the man many believe to be Bermuda's greatest ever bowler, even though his involvement over the last seven years has been limited to coaching and acting as a selector for his adopted country.

"I'm really enjoying what I'm doing right now,'' said Parfitt, who is back in Bermuda on a two-week vacation.

He's believed to be having talks with Bermuda Cricket Board of Control about becoming the Island's national coach -- although both parties insist that his return was not for that purpose.

And if there is no place in Bermuda cricket for Parfitt, certainly the Scots will be happy as he is playing a big part in helping develop their game.

"Back in Scotland I am doing everything, coaching and contributing to the development of players. It's something that everybody knows from my early playing days here that I wanted to do,'' said Parfitt.

"I go into the schools, setting up programmes with teachers and coaching at club levels. It's great.'' Employed jointly by the Scottish Cricket Union and the Scottish Sports Council, it remains to be seen whether a post will be offered by the BCBC.

Neither Parfitt nor the Board are keen to discuss what possibilities might lie ahead.

"I love doing what I am doing, actually I love doing anything that involves cricket, that's always been my love,'' added Parfitt, who has long shown interest in a national post in Bermuda.

"I can do whatever is related to cricket, if it's just coaching it's fine or if it's development and coaching that's fine. I just love being involved.

"I am very busy in Scotland. My job as the cricket development officer covers from Perth up to the Shetlands. It has me working with the schools, clubs and various districts squads, it also includes working with players of all ages. I have been doing this for nine months now.'' Local fans may remember a younger Parfitt as confident and sure of himself, even arrogant, on the cricket field when he terrorised batsmen from the mid-1960s to mid-80s. But few would deny that he was able to back up his bold predictions.

In his first five Cup Matches from 1965-69, Parfitt was instrumental in St.

George's winning by an innings and 32 runs, 10 wickets, an innings and 20 runs, 121 runs and 10 wickets. Figures of eight for 38 in Somerset's first innings in 1970 failed to prevent a draw.

To this day Parfitt still firmly believes that cricket is the ideal character builder for youngsters, a sport which, he says, still offers so much in the way of personal development.

Clarence still at the crease From Page 13 "I feel there are a lot of opportunities out there for them as far as travel, seeing the world and achieving something is concerned,'' Parfitt stated.

"We have players in Scotland who are now going down to England and having trials with the county teams so there's something there for each individual.

But they have to be committed, dedicated and disciplined.

"To play any sport well you have to be disciplined, it helps you to set a goal, just like the goal you set in life.

"It's also a great character and overall development builder. You get to meet a lot of people all over the world and in cricket these are people who become friends for life.'' Despite living in Scotland, Pariftt admits he has been able to keep up to date with happenings in local cricket. But his views on Bermuda's entry into the Red Stripe Bowl will differ from many other ex-players or members of the current cricket board.

"I would have liked to have played in something like the Red Stripe Bowl and other competitions in the region, but I wonder if that's really what is needed for your players here,'' he said.

"During my time we toured a lot, to England, Holland, Canada and the West Indies and playing in different environments helped us a lot. But for the current players to concentrate on going into one area like Canada and the West Indies, is that the right thing to do? "Look around the world and you will notice that all of the top players are going to England because in one day you can experience three different conditions.. .and they consequently get to learn more and progress faster.

"A tour to the UK could be more profitable than one to the Islands. You are not learning much going south because you play under the same conditions day in and day out and then when you go to another part of the world where the conditions change ever so slightly, it's hard to readjust. That's why so many countries are sending their under-19 teams over to the UK.'' Parfitt thinks Bermuda should consider sending teams to the UK, claiming that his only ICC Trophy appearance in 1979 made him realise just how tough new conditions could be.

"Our players just didn't know how to adjust to those different wickets and conditions,'' he said. "Similarly, in England you learn how to bat and bowl under so many different conditions, all of which helps you to be ready for varying conditions anywhere you play.'' Although Bermuda are strengthening ties with Canada, United States and the Caribbean, Parfitt believes that the new board headed by El James is making some good moves towards getting Bermuda cricket out of the doldrums.

"From my brief chats so far with El James their ideas sound good, but Bermuda have to stick with building a sound junior programme,'' he insisted.

"By that I mean they have to have each club form a junior section because the future is not with the ICC team you have now, the future is the players coming out of the junior section.

"For Bermuda cricket to get back on top I would think you have to work hard at this junior level. It's going to take a while, probably as long as a 10-year period.

"You are not going to get there with the crop of players you have now in the senior team because they are too set in their ways, you have got to educate, develope and bring along the under-12s and go forward.'' Clarence Parfitt: `I love doing anything that involves cricket.'