West Indies: So much for the cutting edge

In view of the unconvincing utterances of Mike Findlay and Roger Harper at Saturday morning's Press conference in Jamaica, it stands to reason that little has changed in West Indies' cricket.

The message was brought home to thousands of viewers all over the Caribbean that we are still relatively technologically backward.

We can't prepare for a series and depend on a scoring system to identify the weaknesses and technical flaws of our opponents.

The system devised by Darnley Boxill will tell us where a batsman will gathers most of his runs, whether off-side or on-side, but surely it won't tell us who can't handle the short-pitched ball, who is vulnerable to leg-spin bowling and who plays with his bat away from his body.

A scoring system, however modernised it is, can't do the work of a video that can be monitored, studied and analysed by the coach and players.

That and a simple phone call to Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore would help, Mr. Harper. Surely, he and Mr. Findlay must know that Sri Lanka have just beaten both Zimbabwe and Pakistan, our forthcoming opponents.

Captains always seem to have an influence on the composition of West Indian teams and this time is no different. When Richie Richardson was at the helm, there was a sizeable Antiguan contingent, while Trinidadians never had it so good till Brian Lara called the shots.

Jimmy Adams, captain by default, has not stepped onto the field yet, and there are seven Jamaicans in the 13-man squad for Thursday's opening Test. We will soon see how good all of them are.