Anyone who loves cricket feels nothing but sadness at the state of play in the West Indies – and it’s getting worse. The Test team touring England are not just a shadow of their former selves, they’re a shadow of the present, with half a team at the IPL. Given England’s travails against spin it is a great shame that Sunil Narine, the mystery off-spinner, will not be arriving until the one-dayers. England’s batsmen may be relieved, but it makes a mockery of the series. Nick Sadleir, who was at the Barbados Test against Australia, before heading to the IPL himself, casts an eye over the strengths and weaknesses of what is left and suggests that England will face some tough individual examinations but collectively should roll them over as Australia did.

Six Of One, Half A Dozen Of The Other