next month's International Youth Cricket Tournament -- and a former youth player himself -- has hit out at the way the local squad is being prepared.

But Monroe Darrell's gripe is not with coach Terry Ward, who has given up playing in the Commercial League to be with the youngsters on Sundays, but rather the senior players who have not offered similar support.

Darrell is the father of Monroe Jr, a 16-year-old fast bowler like his father, who is playing with the IYT team in the First Division this season.

Monroe Sr, who regularly attends the team's games, is concerned about the lack of support being given less than a month before the tournament returns to Bermuda for the first time since 1985 when Darrin Lewis' side were victorious.

"Where are the senior players and to what degree has the BCBC made it a priority like they did with the ICC Tournament?'' asked Darrell. He said Ward, a New Zealander, was often left on his own with the squad on Sundays.

"Since Bermuda is hosting this competition I would have anticipated that the type of hype would be reflected by the BCBC encouraging parents, supporters and the community at large,'' said Darrell.

Darrell was a member of the 1973 team which became the first local youth side to travel overseas when they went to Canada. Clevie Wade was only 13-years-old at the time and the youngest member of the team.

"I see a lot of things that are repetitious,'' said Darrell, who admitted he had a vested interest in the current team because of his son.

But he referred to recent comments by another former youth player, Anthony Amory, who also criticised the strength of the squad.

"If that's how he feels then he should make it his business to come out and support the team and see what he can do,'' added Darrell.

"I have seen most of the games and have made it known to Terry that I'm there to assist in whatever regard.'' Some of the team's games have been affected by either the weather, pitches which have not been properly prepared or umpires who have failed to show, said Darrell.

National coach Allan Douglas pointed out that Ward was the coach of the youth team but that others like Winston Reid, Delby Borden and himself had helped out with training during the week.

"Each Wednesday I'm with them,'' Douglas stressed. "Terry is doing it from his heart, for Bermuda cricket and has even given up playing.

"We had some prominent players in Bermuda who were asked to do the job and couldn't do it. One player looked at the calibre of the players and was wary of taking it on. If we keep kicking the people who are doing things freely we will not get anything done.'' Most observers agree the quality of the youth team has been in decline since Shell withdrew their sponsorship of the youth league years ago.

Bermuda have twice won the International Youth Tournament, under Charlie Marshall's captaincy in Canada in 1979 and then 12 years ago when Bermuda beat an England North team by nine wickets. That England team was captained by Mike Atherton who has since gone on to become captain of the England Test team.

Douglas was coach that year of a team that contained the likes of Albert Steede, Dexter and Richard Basden, Dean Minors, Gladwin Edness, Leon Place, Troy Bean and Winslow Williams.