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Or is it just bad habits developed by our cricketers? Are we that bad that we can't produce proper wickets, or is it another ploy to make us feel that everything we do is inferior? And we fall for it.

Batting is a technique where, if the basic skills are developed properly, enables a batter to quickly adjust under any conditions they encounter. It is not the pitch condition, it is the skill of the batsman that determines if he excels or fails. Similarly, bowling is a skill that must be properly developed through practice of the basics. Once both are properly managed at the basic level, with discipline to practice and keep fit, success is achieved.

Throughout our lives, we are faced with variations in wickets based on local conditions. Every parish or village we go within our respective territories, different conditions are encountered. And, the composition of the material that the wicket is made of is based on local geological features, weather etc.. We have played on clay wicket, some very fine, others more grainy; we've played on turf wickets, grass, matting. In one case when we went to play a school match, we encountered a full concrete 22 yards at the host's grounds. But practice on tennis courts, both with hard and soft balls had prepared us for that. In the nets that we practiced on, there was matting, turf, and a plastic strip that looked green like grass, and we bowled with a variety of balls. So, the conditions were varied.

i believe that I may have digressed a little, but Trinidad does not produce inferior wickets, neither St. Vincent or Guyana. The wickets in Antigua reflect local geography, and so do Barbados or Jamaica. Our batting and bowling problems lie in failure to spend any time in developing the basic techniques that allow a player to be versatile. Malcolm Marshall was the most feared fast bowler based on his tremendous speed, but when the he encountered the slow Indian wickets, he quickly adjusted, and was a handful for the Indians under their own conditions. Anywhere the west Indian fast bowlers played, they were a potent force. It was the same situation with our batsmen. They had learn the basics well, and were accustomed to variety of pitches right here in the caribbean.

As young kids we were taught to land the ball on a particular spot drawn by our teacher, sportscaster or coach. that circle was a standard that you had to accomplish. And, with constant practice and fitness, eventually you are able to do what you want with the ball. As soon as you bowl a few balls on any wicket, the properly developed bowler like Marshall, Holding or Roberts quickly resort the approach that fits that ground.

If West Indian bowlers and batsmen do not develop the proper basics, they will never develop. And those techniques have to be developed under the local conditions. If you practice your art properly, and you keep fit, you will be able to adjust to suit any conditions encountered in the world.

By the way, how come others from Australia, India, South Africa come and just defeat us so easily under the inferior conditions that we developed under? Is it that they have learnt the basics well, and just exploit our bad habits? As part of the attempts to rescue West Indies cricket, we have to ensure that every cricket boy and girl never leave PrimaryElementary school without learning the basics of batting and bowling.

Kraigg Brathwaite has been asking for improvement in this area for years. Following the conclusion of the series in Australia, he noted how things were improving but still needed work. I think watching the current West Indian Championship, it is indeed evident that the pitches are certainly better than they were a few years ago. However, work is still required in this area.

If all of the grounds throughout the region can steadily improve, then the players coming through will do likewise. Pace and even bounce will assist batsmen and bowler alike, encourage stroke play with confidence and make for much more attractive cricket.

The absolute worst case scenario was what happened when India visited...those test pitches were like something the tourists would bring with them if that were indeed possible. It was not so much "rolling out the red carpet" for the tourists but "rolling out the slow, low turner"

That can never happen...it must not happen...home advantage must be, home advantage.

In reply to Besar