BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS (AP):
THE SCENES COULD not have been more contrasting.
Last year, the West Indies was being lauded for a record-breaking victory chase of 418 against world champion Australians in Antigua.
A young team under the second-term captaincy of Brian Lara, the West Indies followed three straight defeats to win its fourth test and lift spirits among the seven million English-speaking West Indian population, who follow the fortunes of their cricketers with something like religious fervour.
But after last weekend's embarrassing defeat, there were tears, glum faces and despair at Kensington Oval, once an impenetrable fortress for the West Indies. Heaps of post mortems came from newspaper columnists and writers, asking how the last year's euphoria could evaporate so quickly.
The West Indies lost their third straight Test with England by eight wickets, after a 94-run second innings in Bridgetown. In the first Test in Kingston, England also humiliated the West Indies by limiting their second innings to a Test-low 47 to take the match by 10 wickets.
Lara had said after last year's win over Australia that his team had made a crucial break away from the losing habit and toward 'greater things in the future.'
Professionalism
The 'guys' went on to win a home series against Sri Lanka but, once they toured following an idle summer, cracks began to show again. The team just scraped by lowly Zimbabwe, before losing 3-0 to South Africa.
Critics blame a lack of professionalism and discipline in the West Indies set up. Successive coaches, managers and captains over the last 12 months have chided players for poor attitude, work ethic and commitment to fitness.
Former Manager Ricky Skerritt, who left his post last week, said he had 'been unable to instill in the entire team the fullest understanding of their obligations on and off the field to the people of the West Indies.'
Current Coach, Gus Logie also said before last week's third test that 'the players must have a passion for the game and a responsibility for themselves.'
Lara complained in October that players turned up unfit and as much as 15 pounds overweight for the pre-African tour camp.
The lack of fitness has also led to an increase in injuries, another problem driving West Indies cricket into the doldrums.
Logical choice
Lara no longer displays the optimism he had last year, even as Australia was winning three on the trot. These days, as the team leaders are not getting the best from their players, many have called for changes at the top.
Selection chairman Viv Richards has backed Lara's leadership through the May-June Bangladesh series, saying he is the only logical choice.
But for all of Lara's world-class feats with the bat, his team has gone backward under his leadership.
Another possible solution would be to bring in a foreign coach, free of the wrangling that often breaks down relations in these small, Caribbean islands. Rumours abound that Logie's job may soon be up for grabs.
India underwent many of the same problems before New Zealander John Wright became coach. Four years later, the team has become a world force on the brink of challenging for the top spot in world cricket.
England's successful coach on this West Indies tour is former Zimbabwe captain Duncan Fletcher. Bowling coach Troy Cooley is an unheralded Australian.
Logie originally had been slotted last year to become assistant coach to Australia's Bennett King, but he took the top spot after King refused.
Captains from the competition have repeatedly pointed to the West Indies' potential. England's skipper Michael Vaughan called the Windies a 'very talented bunch of players,' while his Australian counterpart, Steve Waugh, said they were 'an emerging side' with a 'big future.'
