Veteran cricketer Noel Gibbons yesterday claimed Bermuda were sending their weakest team ever to the ICC Tournament in Malaysia.

And he pinned the blame on serious development deficiencies combined with a refusal to select players on merit.

Gibbons, who plays professionally in England, insisted his criticism wasn't a case of sour grapes following his omission from the squad after having played in each of the five previous tournaments.

"The truth of the matter is that even if I was included in this team at the expense of somebody else, I couldn't see it comparing with any of the teams I played with,'' complained Gibbons.

"Bermuda's chances this year are slim because many of the other countries have got stronger while we haven't. I am not saying this just because I was overlooked. As far as I am concerned I could make this team on merit.'' In addition to himself, Gibbons believes that fellow senior players Ricky Hill, Jeff Richardson and Dexter Smith would all have been named if the squad had been chosen purely on merit.

The 41-year-old all-rounder, who is player-coach with Buckhurst Cricket Club in Essex, said that Bermuda cricket was now at a critical stage and its credibility depended largely on what occurred in Malaysia.

"This tournament is going to make or break Bermuda cricket simply because it will say just where we are and if the direction the board have taken will be beneficial in the long run.

"Our ICC record has been superb, we've come close to winning on several occasions and if those past performances are not duplicated then what will the international world think of our cricket.'' Gibbons attributed "the decline in standard to the lack of a progressive youth development programme'' much like the now defunct Shell Cricket League.

The "abandonment'' of the Shell competition, he said, was a travesty and as a result Bermuda was now paying the price.

Looking at the finalised Bermuda squad, headed by skipper Albert Steede and vice captain Clay Smith, Gibbons said it had "batting strength but little else.'' "Strength will come from the batting, despite the fact that, strangely enough, there are no legitimate openers,'' he continued. "But what we have to realise is that batting only saves games, it's fielding and bowling that win games.

"I think that the team is very weak in those two departments. Fielding and bowling are the main weapons in limited overs cricket. Anybody can bowl six overs, but in limited overs wickets are not important, it's containment that is important. And (in this squad) there are no containment bowlers.'' Gibbons said he couldn't see the logic behind taking a team to ICC without two quality openers, noting that this had never happened in the past.

"In every team selected there should be two first class openers, I am talking about qualified players who open daily and not people put there just because they have some ability to bat early. The selection committee obviously see things differently. All of the teams I have been with have each had quality openers and even a third as a back-up.'' As for Bermuda's bowlers, Gibbons expected Roger Blades to lead the way.

But he noted how much Charlie Marshall was used in the Shell/Sandals tournament in Guyana in October when he proved to be one of the best all-rounders in the team and he wondered what role he would be asked to play in Malaysia.

"He is one of the main batsmen in the team and if he is used as an all-rounder in Malaysia it could hurt his game,'' said Gibbons.

The key to Bermuda doing well hinged on the young players being able to adjust to the conditions away from home.

"The problem with taking young and inexperienced players to a tournament like this is that the distance can have a negative effect on them,'' said Gibbons.

"We are talking about going to the other side of the world for five weeks.

And there is that issue of homesickness that always crops up.

"I hope the BCBC took all of this into consideration. I have seen homesickness come up and effect older players than we have going this time and it hasn't been good for the team. The players are not going to somewhere nearby like Canada or the United States. We are talking about travelling to the other side of the world. I have seen some Bermuda players get homesick and bring the whole team down.'' Gibbons noted that many other ICC countries used players in their 40s "because there is no substitute for experience in one-day matches'' -- and suggested that Bermuda's chances might have been brighter had they done likewise.

"You cannot push players along just because they are young. There has to come a time when they have to earn their position.

"Sadly there are no young, talented players here at a time when the Board are pushing the youth. They have some who are 21-22 in the squad but they are not considered young. I am talking about them being young enough to develop, players at the age of 14-15, the same age Charlie Marshall and Clevie Wade were when playing in the Shell League.

"Until we get back to basics, get back to a real development programme it's hard to see where our cricket will be heading. A high priority is a good, functioning youth league such as the Shell if we are serious about progress.''