What the hell are these coaches doing?

It is obvious that Australia are so much better equipped a cricket team, in every department, than the West Indies.

The entire Australian team, from Steve Waugh to all others who have set this new record, should be congratulated on this twelfth win and given all the kudos that goes with such a great achievement.

Waugh has moulded a very tough cricket team, with all personnel knowing exactly what is necessary to be successful not only as individuals but as a unit, which is sometimes difficult to achieve. The tenacity and confidence all add up to an efficient machine whose knowledge of its abilities surpasses what is required.

Only 20 players were involved in those 12 victories for Australia. Consistency helps.

Waugh, despite his injury, wanted to be on the field of play for the big historic moment.

He said: "If this was a normal Test match, I would probably have spent the last few hours in the dressing room. This was a special Test Match, so I wanted to savour the moment. We have some very special players in this team and the confidence and effort has paid off well. I would not be playing the next Test (at Adelaide), recovering from this injury, so I wanted to enjoy the moment."

Even without the services of the injured leg spinner Shane Warne, the bowlers, headed by speedsters Glen McGrath and Brett Lee, held their own in any situation, and against a weak, unfocussed West Indies team, were especially impressive.

There is so much that this West Indies team could learn from the Australians, as they themselves would have learned from us in the 70s and 80s.

Discipline is one of the most effective weapons in a sportsman's armoury. If it does not come naturally, it must be instilled and cultivated by the team's officials. No one can hide from that.

Wavell Hinds' dismissal in the second innings, about two minutes before lunch, with a stroke that could only be described as a "swipe", was a case in point even though he had his skipper at the other end. It is as if the West Indies cricket team is wandering in perpetual pergatory. Clueless, rudderless.

We would all love to see at least a contest between these two teams. I doubt whether anyone expected the Second Test to last much more than three days, after the West Indies had been 22-5 in their first innings.

The game was more or less over then. To date, as Muhammed Ali used to say; "It has been no contest!!" Australia 2 - West Indies 0. It is almost as if Australia is playing against itself.

Which brings me to another point. This present West Indies cricket team is supposed to be on a learning curve, as has been suggested over the past four years. Can anyone see any even marginal improvements over that time? What exactly are they learning?

Look at the numbers of Tests played by batsmen and bowlers and it is clear which department carries the most experience. Jimmy Adams, 49 Tests; Sherwin Campbell 46 Tests; Shiv Chanderpaul 44 Tests; Brian Lara 70 Tests; Courtney Walsh, 122 Tests; Merve Dillon, 7 Tests; Nixon McLean 12 Tests. Marlon Black and Colin Stuart had never played a Test Match before they came to Australia.

Just a cursory look at these numbers shows that it is the more "experienced" batsmen who are embarrassing West Indies cricket. I would suggest all of the batsmen have regressed, some very badly, in the recent past. None of them seem to have it together at all.

Much of this is down to the team's present coaches. Inspiration is as necessary as perspiration when it comes to continuing good professional performances.

Roger Harper and Jeff Dujon are the latest in a long line of coaches over a short period. Some of them have been legends: Rohan Kanhai, Andy Roberts, Clive Lloyd, Malcolm Marshall, Viv Richards and now Harper. For the first time, we also have an assistant coach in Jeff Dujon.

But despite the star-studded line up, the returns of the West Indies batsmen have never been poorer. No one wants to say it, so I will. I think having both Harper and Dujon as a coaching team is overkill and counter-productive. One-upmanship, egos and insecurity get in the way of progress.

While there seems to be a lack of communication with the players - or perhaps someone is communicating but no one is listening - the batsmen's efforts are getting worse by the day. It is as if these guys are just coasting.

Sarwan has now heard so much advice that he is not sure if he is coming or going. Sherwin Campbell's feet are more leaden than they have ever been, Jimmy Adams is almost unrecognisable from the batsman who not so long ago was one of the leading batsmen in the world.

Brian Lara, who is under pressure from every non-cricketing quarter, has no one to help him, either psychologically or physically.

Chanderpaul may have already given up, while Darren Ganga does not seem to have the correct tools, even if his effort and attitude are commendable.

Hinds looks okay, but while his aggression is useful, he needs to think more about his game.

In truth, the entire West Indies batting line-up looks a shambles. I will ask the obvious question, and suggest that anyone who is even distantly involved in West Indies cricket to answer, please. What the hell are these two coaches doing?

Whatever it is, it is not obvious with the worsening performances so far from the West Indies cricket team so far this tour. Please do not answer all at once!