THE EDITOR, Sir:

THE PROBLEM with West Indies cricket is that we are yet to recognise and appreciate the importance of aspects off the field.

Gone are the days when we could use our natural talent and blow away everyone on the field. We are therefore trailing our counterparts in fitness, technology and the physiological aspect of the game. Other teams take an analytical approach in preparation, while we seem to think we can just go out and have a swing.

Another problem is that we don't learn from teams that are doing well. For example, Australia have dominanted Test cricket for the past 12 years and they have done so by always playing a spinner, some times two. At what point are the West Indies going to realise that we must develop a spinner?

Pick one from Omari Banks or Dave Mohammed and stick with him. Simply put, we will not win many Test matches without a spinner.

I am, etc.,

A.A.

London, England

danks29@hotmail.com