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!