ready for Saturday's testimonial game in his honour at Lord's.

Despite having retired from competitive cricket in Scotland two years ago the 51-year-old former Bermuda and St. George's Cup Match star left-arm swing bowler still feels that he is capable of performing well during the 40 overs game.

"I'm looking forward to Saturday, naturally I am still overjoyed about having my countrymen honour me by having this testimonial match. It's just a great thing for people to do,'' said Parfitt, who returned home last Friday with his wife Dorothy and his two stepdaughters.

Since his retirement Parfitt has been busy coaching and serving in an administrative capacity for teams in Scotland both as a selector for the national squad and team manager for the northern district and occasionally for the national team.

Just recently he has started a new project in his local neighbourhood, acting as a co-ordinator of a programme to develop cricket from the primary schools to the senior level.

"It's quite challenging and I am looking forward to it,'' he said of his new venture.

Despite having taken on these new cricket roles, Parfitt still found the time to play this summer, having turned out on one occasion in July. "But I'm just coaching these days,'' he conceded.

Always known to be a noted lover of the sport which has gained him fame over the years, Parfitt admitted that it was tough to retire although he has now learned to accept it.

While some of the younger local cricket fans will be unfamiliar with his achievements, it's clear that the many records that he has set in the local game will hold for several years -- his greatest being the top wicket-taker in Cup Match with 115.

Another outstanding achievement that he will long treasure is having singlehandedly taken all 10 wickets of opposing teams on three occasions, twice in Bermuda and once in Scotland.

In the mid-60s he snatched 10 for 16 against Somerset Bridge while playing for St. George's league team and followed this up with 10 for 43 in a benefit game for Cal Richardson at Lord's and 10 for 44 in a league game in Scotland.

Even though his best days on the pitch are behind him fans should still be able to see some signs of his past magic.

Noel Gibbons yesterday regretted not being available for the testimonial, claiming that he would have been willing to come back home from his Essex Colour Assembly league in England for the event.

"I'm happy to have been included in one of the teams, but since my club here Buckhurst is in the Sunday League final against Brookweald at The Oval on Saturday for the first time in 11 seasons it will be impossible,'' said Gibbons, who was last week named to captain the club next year.