One of Bermuda's most famous cricketing sons would like the Island's Cricket World Cup aspirations to be entrusted to him.

Clarence Parfitt yesterday declared his interest in the job of national cricket coach saying “it would be like icing on the cake, especially if Bermuda qualified” for the 2007 showpiece at next summer's ICC Trophy in Ireland.

The legendary Cup Match bowler, now employed as Regional Manager for Central and North Districts for Cricket Scotland, intends to cast his name into the ring for the post vacated by Guyanese Mark Harper at the end of his three-year contract last month.

“I will have to make some contact and see what they are offering. I would have to see what the job entails but, being Bermudian, I have always been interested in putting something back into Bermuda,” explained the 60-year-old.

“It's always been my ambition to give something to the country I love and to the sport I love.”

President of the Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) Reggie Pearman disclosed that Parfitt had indicated his interest when last visiting his homeland and it appears the cricket chief looks upon the Hall of Famer quite favourably.

“There was an indication when he was here last time. I have sent him some e-mails and I am waiting for a reply to see what his programme is,” said the BCB head.

Though he has lived overseas for 20 years, Parfitt was quick to assure that he remains abreast of happenings in local cricket and would have no trouble in hitting the ground running for this job which the BCB hope to fill by January.

“Yes, I have been back quite regularly in the last couple of years so I know and have seen most of the players,” he said.

“There is quite a lot of talent in Bermuda, it just needs to be shaped and to get the discipline sorted out.”

Admittedly, he is “very disappointed” with his country's slump in international cricket and highlighted a lack of discipline and respect as key factors. He also chided players for not being enthusiastic about national duty.

“They should be putting Bermuda first...but after what I read last year when Barbados came and a lot of the top players didn't want to play, they seem to be putting Bermuda third or fourth,” he lamented.

However, Parfitt is confident he can rekindle cricketers' passion for representing their country at senior level.

“We need to get them to think like we did years ago and put Bermuda first.”

The former St. George's strike bowler believes his vast experience in the UK - first as a professional cricketer then as a coach and cricket administrator - makes him an excellent choice for the position.

Should he get the nod, he would also be coming with the knowledge of what is required to prepare a team for the ICC Trophy, having worked with Scotland in their successful qualification bid for the 1999 World Cup.

“I helped to coach them and I was a selector,” he said.

Ironically, Scotland too will be contesting next July's ICC Trophy in which five teams will earn World Cup berths.

Parfitt hopes the two countries to which he has strong ties will not meet at any stage. They are grouped separately for the preliminaries but could clash thereafter. Scotland's chances in the tournament, he surmised, “are very good”.

“We have been playing a lot of international first-class cricket for the last two years and they are getting ready to go off to Dubai next month to play in the Inter-continental Cup finals,” he said, adding that the squad includes four players with county experience.

Such international exposure, he noted, is missing from and critical to Bermuda's cricketing fortunes.

“That's one of the biggest problems. We sit in Bermuda and we don't travel,” he said critically.

“Years ago, when I played, we used to travel to England and the West Indies. That's how you learn the game.”

Meanwhile, Pearman said “things are happening in the background” in preparation for the Island's ICC Trophy quest with a training squad to be announced soon.

Regarding the coaching post, he stressed that funding is one of the main stumbling blocks as Government does not underwrite this and substantial money must be found.

“We are cognisant of the fact that we have to get someone but we have to work within our means,” said Pearman, disclosing that applications have already been received from foreign candidates some of whom have coached other teams previously.

The right man for the job? See Page 29.