After losing the first Test by four wickets, the second by 178 runs and the third by nine wickets, the West Indies lost the fourth by 149 runs and, despite the valiant efforts by Ridley Jacobs, Nixon McLean, Curtly Ambrose and Mervyn Dillon who put on 163 for the last three wickets to lessen the embarrassment, nothing, suggest they can hit back and win the fifth Test.

Once again, it was a pathetic performance, another embarrassment underlined by the run out of Carl Hooper - nonchalantly going for a third run with the team in trouble and the manner in which Philo Wallace, Junior Murray and Hooper were dismissed in the second innings.

In the many discussions, publicly and privately, dealing with the performance of the team, there has been talk about who should have been on the team and who should not and about bringing in youngsters in a rebuilding process.

The talk about who should have been in and who should not is surprising - especially as apart from the omission of Sherwin Campbell, the selection of the team was greeted with approval and particularly as among those who people are now saying should have been selected are Phil Simmons and Keith Arthurton - two players who, because of their performances in the past few years, were ridiculed by many of these same people.

People, it appears, forget too easily.

The talk about bringing in youngsters is not surprising. It should be remembered, however, that the young players who are being recommended are still to perform at the territorial level where the standard is not even what it used to be and that but for a performance here and there, those on the ``A'' team have not performed.

The harsh realities are that although it is not short of basic talent, West Indies cricket is suffering because of the lack of technically good batsmen, bowlers of skill, good fielders, players who are committed to excellence and weak management.

What West Indies cricket needs is a new approach to the game at all levels.

West Indies cricket needs young boys who are committed to the pursuit of excellence and are therefore willing to practice, to train and to listen to those with experience.

It also needs people around them who know what they are about, are not prepared to accept mediocrity and are dedicated to their development as players and as individuals, people who are not insular and foolishly promote players from their clubs or territories who are below standard.

It also needs clubs which are committed to providing the facilities, the encouragement, the guidance and the coaching necessary to develop players of quality, and private sector organisations and governments which are prepared to assist in funding.

West Indies cricket, at the territorial and Test levels, also needs coaches and managers who not only know what they are about, but who also are prepared to do what must be done in order to get the best out of teams.

The players must take the blame for most of what is happening in South Africa and in recent times. The coaches and the managers, however, are also at fault and have been at fault - not because they do not know what they are about, but because, for whatever reason, they continue to accept what is happening without taking action.

If the coaches and the managers fail to act in the interest of West Indies cricket, they too are failing West Indies cricket, and should also be put under the microscope.

The players, led by captain Brian Lara, have become a law unto themselves and the Board has to do something about it. There are some things, especially in professional sport, which are non negotiable, and practice and training are among them.