Anything But A Happy 100th Test

It was to be a special Test. But it turned out to bethe poorest since I returned to West Indies cricket. My 100th Test in maroon capwas anything but joyful.

We are a young side and need time, but it should nolonger be an excuse. If West Indies is to live up to its brilliant past, thepresent generation must take its share of responsibility. A few guys are intheir early 20s and some of them have played 20-25 Tests. By now they need toshow they are maturing.

Our past two tours to the Indian sub-continent wereruinous in terms of results. We were drubbed by Pakistan at the neutral venue ofSharjah and then in Sri Lanka, despite Brian Lara's brilliance, the score read3-0. I remember in Sharjah one of the prime reasons for our disappointing turnwas dropped catches. We let go no less than 21 catches in two Tests. By theevidence of Mumbai Test, the horrors in the field continue to be committed.

Of the three catches dropped in India's first innings, the one that escaped ofSachin Tendulkar didn't prove costly. But Sehwag's miss when he was in the 70swas terrible. A couple of catches we dropped in the field should have been heldat any level of cricket.

Theorists could point flaws in our coaching in domesticcricket or in the basics we teach youngsters but the coach (Roger Harper) or thecaptain could go only till a certain point. It is the cricketers who have to goout and perform in the middle.

We haven't had a big discussion on our defeat in Mumbaitill now and the players were left to reflect on their own shortcomings. Thegood thing is that the chairman of selectors Sir Vivian Richards, is around. Iam sure the message would soon be out that nobody can take his place for grantedin the team. Just being on tour doesn't mean cricketers could get away with poorperformances time and again. If replacements are to be found, I am sure Vivwould not mind taking the tough route.

I was extremely successful when the Indians toured WestIndies early this year but since then my returns have not been encouraging.There was not much to recommend when we were engaged in two home Tests againstNew Zealand and I also didn't hit straps in the ICC Champions Trophy in SriLanka.

My critics would point out to the false hook shot whichejected me from the middle, a similar stroke which shaped our defeat against theIndians at Port-of-Spain in April. I am not too worried though. If I feel theneed to hook in the next Test to a certain delivery, you would find me going forit again.

Harbhajan Singh picked up a big haul in the secondinnings and for two successive Tests against us, the off-spinner has done well.I have been told he complained about different balls in the West Indies whichled to his inconsistent performance on the tour. But he only has to look atMuralitharan and Shane Warne to realise they are champion bowlers because theybowl in different conditions and with different balls without a dip inperformance.

On a personal note, I felt grateful for the Indian cricketboard to have honoured me on my 100th Test. I also received a fax ofcongratulation from the West Indies board but it was not a big thing among usteammates as we wanted it low key and concentrate on the first Test which isalways so important in a short series of three games.

We are up against it now but so were we when we trailedthe Indians 1-0 in a home series not long ago. All of you must be aware what wasthe final outcome of the series.

PTI