This series is really getting to me. I am exasperated to see the once proud Windies reduced to such whimpering pussies. I am not surprised, as their best player in this test is not even West Indian! He is South African, and is called Brian Jerling!

I believe that umpires have a tough job and it is easy to criticize them after seeing replays on television. There is no such thing as a perfect umpire. The occasional mistake will be made, but umpires have to be consistent. On top of that, these are supposed to be the best umpires in the game and it is hard to accept such glaring errors.

Umpire Brian Jerling has been a disgrace in this match. When India bowled, I lost count of the number of close lbw shouts he ignored, particularly from Kumble – some looked plumb and would be given by any respectable umpire. Now, that would be fine if he maintained his monk like abstinence. In 170 overs, he did not give a single lbw.

Funnily, as soon as India come to bat he hands out three in quick succession. Dravid was out but Kaif and Dhoni were clearly not. Mistakes are okay but such inconsistency is not. It raises serious questions about competence and ‘neutrality’. Sorry Mr. Jerling, you are in the wrong place. It is in keeping with the decline in umpiring standards over the last few years.

Anyway, back to the match. The Windies may have won the ODI series but that was more to India losing the plot. There is little doubt that West Indian cricket is in terminal decline. I have not seen anything this test series to change my opinion. Piling on 581 on this pitch is no achievement when one umpire forgets to raise his finger. India were all out for 362, giving the Windies a lead of 219. Stunningly, Lara refused to enforce the follow on. These are amazing times in cricket. They lead by 219 at tea on day 4 and they think of saving the test first? Shocking – and disgusting.

A once proud cricketer who ruled the world is now an overcautious pussy, crippled by caution and fear of failure. Lara has buried whatever chance of victory the Windies had this match. Combine this with their inexplicably slow batting when setting a target yesterday, and you can sense the complete absence of confidence in themselves. That is the true measure of a team – put to scale by themselves.

I only hope that Lara will not do a Saurav, and will retire after the World Cup. He is finished as a top batsman. That he is the only player that can still inspire this team shows how bare the cupboard of talent is. They are a very mediocre team in every department of the game and will remain so.

My disgust with these so-called great players is complete. I switched the game off as soon as Lara decided to bat again. I spend more time watching cricket than I should, but I will not watch drivel.

I am watching the best match of the soccer world cup so far – Portugal versus Holland. That is certainly worth my time. What skill and heart. Big Phil Scolari – what a coach! What poor refereeing – here too? Escape seems impossible!

Just a few more thoughts. I am happy to see VVS get some runs at last. Kaif and Chanderpaul are the two most ugly players in cricket. I am not talking about their looks here, even though they are strong contenders in that category too!!!!

Ouch. Take my advice – watch more soccer.

The first two tests have left me drained. For the first time in years, I felt that I could not bring myself to read or write anything about cricket. To compound matters, I’ve been doing 12-14 hour days with work, which explains my silence over the last several days.

I just hope that the players have taken time off cricket too. It is obvious that the disappointment of not winning either of the first two tests will have taken a physical and emotional toll on the players. The best recipe to recover is to take some time off cricket. Few places surpass the Caribbean in doing just that.

Test cricket can be cruel and unpredictable, as we have seen over the last 3 weeks. This is exactly why teams have to grab their chance every time. The team did everything right in the second test, but were denied victory by the elements. The team does bear complete responsibility for not winning the first. You will probably have a better understanding of why I was so upset on the fourth day of that test (Playing to potential, at last – June 5, Fortune favors the brave – June 6).

Brian Lara is the luckiest captain alive. This is a great time for him to buy some lottery tickets! Hell, with the impending bankruptcy of the West Indian Cricket Board, they should all play the lottery! God has certainly been West Indian over the last 3 weeks.

The current turmoil over player contracts is going to distract the West Indian players. I don’t care what they say officially. I do have a hunch that the near miss will have energized the Indians, and I expect them to win one of the remaining two tests.

The Indians have to play Harbhajan. I have always believed in playing 5 bowlers in tests and have said that repeatedly. We have a sixth batsman in Dhoni. A seventh batsman almost never wins a test. A fifth bowler frequently does, particularly when the batting is on fire. I cannot understand why there is still a debate about all this.

Finding 5 bowlers of quality is a completely different proposition, and that may explain the team’s reluctance. We cannot seem to find more than 2 or 3 in any given test – and that is a chronic problem. Currently, Kumble and Munaf are bowling well. Harbhajan is hungry and will play well. The rest are bowling like Oompa Loompa. Irfan continues to blow hot and very very cold. Sreesanth bowls like a fiery but headless, temperamental chicken. VRV should play more Ranji Trophy cricket.

Rahul has excelled as a batsman but has slipped up with some crucial decisions as captain. Consider the combined experience of Rahul and Greg – and they still cannot get team selection right. Shocking! I just cannot explain it.

I can say this with certainty, though – if India lose or draw this series, Rahul will go down as the unluckiest Indian captain ever. That I am sure about.

All the best of luck, boys!