Did you expect any different? If you did, I am sure you are a citizen of La la-land. With such penury in bowling resources, this team deserves worse. Like good guests, the Indians did not trouble the hosts and folded early, the inning screeching to a halt at 241. The West Indies ended the day at 318/6, lead of 77.

Chris Gayle was lucky to survive an lbw shout to the first ball he faced from Munaf with nothing on the board. It cost India as he went on to score 72 off 91 balls. Munaf bowled well at the start to get the wickets of Ganga and Lara. He was just okay after tea, bowling at much reduced pace (21-5-60-2).

Kumble bowled okay and within himself (26-5-85-2). Sreesanth was terrible (13-1-82-0). I have said repeatedly that Sreesanth lacks the first ingredient a good bowler must possess – consistency. He mixes good balls with terrible ones with the result that batsmen feel no pressure at all. Both VRV and Sreesanth bowled far too many balls on middle and leg, particularly to Bravo, who enjoyed them.

That was a major blunder, and it came at a crucial time. Sarwan was out at 182 and India had a chance to come back into the match (182/4). A couple of wickets and we would be right back in it. That is the second ingredient a great bowler posseses – the ability to strike a blow when the match hangs in the balance. VRV and Sreesanth needed to keep to an off stump line, and keep it tight at their end. Instead, they bowled short or into Bravo’s pads with predictable results. Bravo had scored a half-century before you could say ‘bloody hell’. The next wicket fell at 255 (Chanderpaul caught Dhoni off Sehwag) – by then, we had missed the bus.

Unless Sreesanth undergoes a major change, he will not last very long in international cricket and may have to go back to break dancing. He has been playing at this level for a few months now and should do better. VRV does not look a test level bowler to me – nothing more to say. His bowling is as friendly as his baby face would have you believe.

Sehwag has shaved his head and looks like Laloo Yadav with a shaven head, if you have the stomach to imagine it. He did bowl a face saving spell today to get the crucial wickets of Chanderpaul and the dangerous Bravo, who was well stumped by Dhoni. Without these, we would have been looking at a much larger deficit.

I just cannot understand how spinners bowl no balls. It is callous and unprofessional. Kumble bowled at least a couple and so did Sehwag. There were 32 extras given away from 82 overs bowled by India today, 15 of them no balls.

I expect India to concede a lead in excess of 125. A loss awaits. These batsmen, save one, don’t have the stomach for a pitched battle.