Marlon Samuels ... should play in Durham. - AP

Tony Becca, Contributing Editor

AS FAR as the West Indies are concerned one Test remains to be played, the battle for the Wisden Trophy is over.

After drawing the first Test of the four-match series, after losing the second and third Test matches by an innings and 283 runs and by 60 runs, respectively, the West Indies can no longer win the trophy.

In other words, when the fourth and final Test begins at the Riverside in Chester-le-street in Durham tomorrow morning (Jamaica time), it will be, for the once mighty West Indies, nothing but a battle for pride.

But for matches against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, the West Indies have not won a Test series away from home in the past 12 years. They have won only one Test match - against England in 2000 - away from home in the past 10 years and, after losing this series, their dream, their ambition, must be to win this last Test match so that they can at least break the seven-year drought.

The question, however, is this: Can they lift themselves, or rather, do they have it in them to win the Test match?

Embarrassing collapse

Based on their best moments - their batting in the first Test at Lord's, their bowling and their fielding on the first day of the third Test at Old Trafford, their batting in the second innings at Old Trafford, with a little luck, they can win the Test match.

Based on their general performance with the ball and in the field, however, based on their embarrassing collapse in the first innings of the third Test, Shivnarine Chanderpaul or no Shivnarine Chanderpaul, they cannot, luck or no luck, defeat England.

On top of that, for only the second time in 18 visits to England, the West Indies will not be playing at The Oval - at their London home away from home. Instead they will be playing in faraway Durham, in the shadow of the beautiful Lumley Castle.

Somewhat demoralising

While that probably does not mean anything, following on their last visit to Australia when they did not play in Melbourne or in Sydney, it probably underlines the West Indies' present place in world cricket, and if that is so, if despite the wonderful surroundings they read it as such, it could be somewhat demoralising.

Another thing going against the West Indies is that at Headingley, it was cold, very cold, the ball swung alarmingly and while it is now a few weeks on, while it is later into the summer and it may not be as cold, Chester-le-street is more north than Headingley and could be just as cold.

With Matthew Hoggard expected back into the England attack to join fellow pacers Steve Harmison and left-hander Ryan Sidebottom, even if it is too cold for left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, it could be another nightmare for the West Indies batsmen.

Bowling variety

Because of that, instead of going in with only five specialist batsmen and five bowlers of the same pace - but for Fidel Edwards, of almost the sam and with all of them being right-handers, the West Indies are expected to include another specialist batsman in the team.

With Sylvester Joseph being the only other batsman in the squad, it should be, without a doubt, Marlon Samuels.

Apart from being a better batsman, Samuels, most times slower than the pace bowlers, would at least give the team a little bit of variety in the bowling department - and especially so if Chris Gayle is unable to bowl.

Six batsmen would mean one less bowler an he was the bowler selected instead of a batsman at Old Trafford, even though he was fortunate to make his debut last time out, based on his seven wickets in the second innings and on the policy of reward, it should be Darren Sammy to retain his place, Corey Collymore to make way.

Regardless of what the West Indies do in their effort to break the drought and to finish on a high, all things considered, it should be England again - Chanderpaul or no Chanderpaul, Samuels or no Samuels.