Tony Becca
THE WEST Indies are two-down in the one-day series against South Africa and with three matches to go, it is possible that they can recover and win it.
That, however, seems unlikely, very unlikely.
After losing the four-match Test series two-nil, the West Indies, like their fans, went into the one-day series believing they could win it, and they believed so because of the following reasons.
One is that one-day cricket is different from Test cricket; two is that you don't need to bowl out a team to win a match; three is that the West Indies record in recent times is better in one-day cricket than it is in Test cricket; four is that batting can win one-day matches; and five is that the West Indies batting is not only stronger than their bowling, but also because they possess, on their day, some of the world's most exciting batsmen.
So far, however, Test cricket or one-day cricket, it is the same story for the West Indies. In fact, based on their performance in the back-to-back matches at Sabina Park, their performance in the one-day series may even be worse than it was in the Test series.
On Saturday, the West Indies were dismissed for 253 and lost by eight wickets with five overs to spare, on Sunday, they were limited to 152 for seven after recovering from 103 for seven and lost by eight wickets with 6.2 overs to spare.
After losing the two Test matches one by eight wickets and one by an innings and 86 runs, there really has been no difference between the West Indies in the Test matches and in the one-day matches.
SELF-ASSESSMENT
For that to change, the West Indies have to look at themselves, see where they are weaker and where they are strong, or probably stronger, and plan accordingly.
Looking at both teams, at South Africa's bowling, fielding and batting, and at the West Indies bowling, fielding and batting, it is like cheese to chalk.
Without a doubt, South Africa are a better bowling team, they are a better fielding team, although some West Indians do not believe so, even with Brian Lara in the West Indies team, they are also a better batting team.
Based on what happened during the Test series and during the first two one-day matches, they also understand the game better, much better, than the West Indies.
With such a strong team in every department of the game, including behind the stumps where Mark Boucher is superior to Courtney Browne, South Africa can do whatever they want against the West Indies and still win.
Whenever they win the toss, for example, South Africa either bat first or field first. With their bowling and fielding, they can bat first and win, even if they do not pile up a huge total, and with their batting and the West Indies' bowling, they can bat second and win, even if the West Indies post a huge total.
Not so for the West Indies though. They do not have that luxury.
HOPE FOR THE BEST
With their bowling, unless something is wrong, really wrong with the pitch, whenever the West Indies win the toss, they should bat second and hope for the best.
Regardless of how many runs they may score the West Indies, because of their bowling, have little chance of defeating South Africa if they bat first.
Regardless of how many runs South Africa may score, however, the West Indies, because of their batting, because of the possibilities of their batting, have a good chance, at least a better chance of defeating South Africa if they bat second.
Although the West Indies batting is so often no different from the West Indies bowling, there is no question that it is at least good enough on its day to fire and be brilliant.
Although some strange things have happened in the game and they could bat first and win a game, if the West Indies hope to win one, or two, or even all three of the remaining matches, if and when they win the toss they should not even think once much more twice.
They should simply send South Africa to bat.
It was surprising that the West Indies won the toss on Saturday and batted first on a pitch that promised to be good for batting throughout the day.
It was not surprising, however, that South Africa, who possess a little fear for the West Indies batting in one-day cricket, won the toss on Sunday and batted, not before but after the West Indies.
