Recalled national squad player Anthony Amory conceded that the touring Indian Test team eased up on Bermuda's batsmen during their overwhelming victory at St. David's on Saturday.

And had they not, he says, the visitors would have dismissed Bermuda for less than 100, having had them in early trouble at 9-3 when Amory came to the crease and then 27-5 when he was joined by Dean Minors for a stand that ultimately gave the innings a look of respectability.

Together the left-handers added 68 in 36 minutes with Minors scoring 42 and Amory, in his first match for Bermuda in five years, finishing unbeaten on 48.

Between them they hit 15 boundaries as the pressure was eased.

"We tried to pick up as many singles as possible,'' said Amory. "(Sachin) Tendulkar was bowling from one end and (Saurav) Ganguly from the other, so with 20 overs left it didn't make sense throwing it away but to pick up as many ones and twos as we could.

"Inbetween we came to the conclusion that they gave us so many runs out on that field it was a shame. They were letting things go that they would have stopped easily.

"They were restricting us and then all of a sudden everything was open. They eased the pressure because if they wanted to they could have restricted us to at least 80 runs.'' Controversy surrounded the state of the wicket with the Indians refusing to bat first because of the risk of injury on a strip they felt was under-prepared.

But while Amory also voiced concern about the wicket, he said it had not played as badly as the tourists feared.

"It was just the surface that was damp but the wicket was real hard and the ball was coming on pretty fast,'' said Amory. "The ball came on a good height where you could play any shot you wanted to play.'' The well documented problems in Malaysia which could result in disciplinary action taken against a number of players, opened the door for Amory to play his first international since 1992.

"I was really surprised when the invitation came because I didn't expect it,'' the 33-year-old admitted.

And Amory took his chance, doing enough to keep his name in the minds of the selectors. Further good scores during the summer could see him claim a spot in the team for the Shell/Sandals tournament in October.

He believes team-mate Donald Norford could also stake a claim after a useful knock of 41 against the Indians for the BCBC Select.

"Other players are being looked at now. Before they were looking at the same old players,'' he said.

"Yes, that would inspire me to get myself in a lot better shape than I am in now.

"But if there is somebody just as good as me, a little younger than I am and in better condition, then I would have no problem stepping aside. We have to be in shape to play this game, physically and mentally.'' Amory pulls no punches when pointing an accusing finger at the way the game is being run, the lack of a youth structure, the loss of national pride and the attitude of the youngsters coming through.

"The focus is not on the league structure but mainly on the national programme,'' he said. "How can the national team get any better? It starts at home with our domestic leagues.

"If that was brought up to par then our national team would get better.'' Amory said he was surprised and disappointed at what transpired in Malaysia where the conduct of several players came into question.

"The standard is declining and it started from the top. That is the main reason why I lost interest.'' He accused some senior players as looking at overseas tournaments as just free trips. "That's very sad because we are setting a bad example for the youngsters coming through.

"I don't want to leave this country with a bunch of guys who are only thinking about a trip. I might as well stay at home and not be embarrassed.'' Amory has concerns about the lack of outstanding youngsters coming through, especially in the 17-21 age bracket. He sees the loss of the Shell Youth League, in which he played for two years, as the main reason.

"Our junior programme is a shambles,'' he said bluntly. "When Shell stopped, the young players stopped playing.

"There is a gap from the Clays (Smith), Deans (Minors), Leon Places and Jason Lewises, the last guys who played in Shell, to the young guys now. There are no real outstanding players between 17 and 21.

"This youth squad we have now is the worst I have ever seen. The attitude of the young guys is terrible. They feel that because they train they should automatically play but it doesn't work like that.''