Back to basics for the Windies

It was about one year ago that South Africa embarked on their enduring Caribbean adventure of three months. Thanks to the coverage on SuperSport you guys were able to live the experience and enjoy cricket 'calypso style'.

You will remember that throughout that series, South Africa were the dominant team that gelled as a cohesive unit. The only resistence provided at any stage by the West Indies were some rare flashes of individual brilliance provided mainly by Brian Lara and Courtney Walsh.

Even though those two legends were the catalysts for any success, we all agreed whilst commentating that the young guns in the West Indies line-ups were a talented bunch that should develop and reinstate pride to their fanatical supporters.

Whilst I have been doing some commentary work in Sharjah and by the way witnessing some fascinating cricket (mainly from the 'home' team), I have had the perfect opportunity to analyse the progress of the boys from the Caribbean over the past twelve months. At this point any recommendation, if you are a West Indies supporter, is to move your cursor back to the home page indicator and click on it.

Sadly the visitors have been very ordinary. Brian Lara is not here but those gifted youngsters have not kicked on and risen to new heights. Gayle, Ganga, Hinds, Samuels and Ramnarine have treaded water against quality opposition and appear some way off the rank. I can only identify one individual who has progressed significantly, and that is Mervyn Dillon who has some huge boots to fill now that Walsh and Ambrose are enjoying their time with their size 14's up.

The most glaring deterioration has been their basics. During the two tests against Pakistan they put down seventeen chances!! Whilst batting in the last innings of the second test they collapsed for the tenth time in a row in tests, losing five wickets for twenty eight runs. Sometimes it appears they don't care. I can't help but wonder if my old mate Eldine Baptiste wiht his enormous pride of performance hasn't got a role to play.