injury, while another former Bailey's Bay fast bowler, Legay Gibbons, continues his battle to recover from a career-threatening groin injury.

Trott, who transferred back to Bailey's Bay from Hamilton Parish at the start of the season after going on tour with them to England in pre-season, had been advised by his doctor (Dr. Couper) that his left knee will not stand up to the constant pounding that is put on it by fast bowling.

The promising paceman, who had a brief stint in the Bermuda team, has been out of action for much of the last three seasons, in 1990 with a cartilage injury when he transferred to Hamilton Parish, in 1991 with a shoulder injury and now with a recurrence of the knee injury, which includes both cartilage and ligament problems.

"If I continue playing cricket there is a possibility I could be in a cast for six to eight months,'' said Trott who turns 28 next month. "His advice to me was don't play anymore because constant pounding on one leg is where the trouble is coming from.'' In Trott's case it is the left leg, on which his weight is shifted at the point of delivery, that has suffered the damage. It was after an operation on April 28 that Dr. Couper advised Trott of the seriousness of him not playing again.

"This is my fourth operation inside 10 years,'' he said of the long-term problem. "I've been going to Dr. Couper for the last 10 years and he knows what's happening with my knee.

"I've accepted it and as far as I'm concerned it doesn't make sense trying to prove something to myself when I've been told it won't work in the long run.

The information I got after the operation was not good.'' A specialist is due to arrive in Bermuda from Montreal next month to fit Trott with a knee brace for when he plays table tennis, cycles or does some light jogging. "The knee is pretty fragile from the deterioration of the bone,'' said Trott, who is now undergoing therapy to strengthen the knee.

"I'll have to wait for the brace before I can play table tennis and I might have to adjust my game,'' said Trott, who is also rated one of the Island's table tennis players. "I don't think I will be able to stretch for balls.'' Meanwhile, Gibbons continues his battle to shake off a groin injury that has also hampered his progress.

Gibbons, who last played for St. George's in last season's Camel Cup semifinal loss to Devonshire Rec., has had the groin injury for more than two years. He says it does not seem to be responding to treatment.

"Sometimes the pain is in the groin area and then it comes around to the hip,'' he explained. "The treatment I've had is not working. I was talking to (trainer) Eugene Raynor and he said I probably need to see a sports doctor.

All they've been giving me here is ultra-sound and that's not working.'' Gibbons, who turned 30 this year, was on the fringe of a Cup Match spot when the injury set him back, but he has vowed to overcome it and resume his career.

"As long as I'm bowling it's fine but when I stop and warm down is when it hurts,'' he said. "Coming back for a second spell I won't be able to give 100 percent.

"It hurts to sit around and not play cricket. I spent so much money getting this injury checked. If I could get it fixed in the next couple of weeks I would be back playing in a couple of weeks -- that's how bad I want to play! That's why I stay away from training sessions. One of my goals was to play Cup Match but my main goal now is to get over this injury.'' Gibbons, who transferred to St. George's from Bailey's Bay in 1983, has vowed to stick with the former league champions. "I was asked to play with Hamilton Parish and Bailey's Bay but I think I will stay with St. George's because they need players right now, and plus they gave me my first chance.'' DERRON TROTT -- Promising career cut short by ongoing knee problems.