After being battered by New Zealand in Barbados, now the West Indies players have been given a going-over by Tony Cozier, the Caribbean's senior and most respected cricket journalist. Writing in the Daily Nation, Cozier said that New Zealand's margin of victory – 204 runs – was a fair reflection of the gulf between the sides. "The outcome was neither flattering to New Zealand nor unjust to the West Indies," Cozier said. "It was an utterly fair representation of the difference between the teams in purpose, intensity, allround strength and sheer cricketing common sense and confirmed their respective ratings of third and sixth on the International Cricket Council Test Championship table."

Cozier was scathing about the poor batting which saw West Indies skittled for 107 in their first innings and then lose six wickets for 68 second time around. ""They [the crowd] had watched in disbelief and disappointment as rank carelessness, unbecoming of a professional team of international repute, led to the first innings collapse to 107 that virtually determined the issue.

"Man has split the atom, landed on the moon and found the Titanic, but no team has ever scored 474 to win a Test match - and the present West Indies team, with their glaring limitations, certainly weren't going to make history."

Cozier singled out Ramnaresh Sarwan for particular criticism. Sarwan fell to a half-hearted hook first ball in the first innings, and again perished to a similar shot second time round. "Sarwan is a fine young player," wrote Cozier, " but unless he overcomes the inexcusable indiscretions that have repeatedly brought his downfall, he won't have the long and productive career indicated by his obvious talent."

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