"Viv Richards was dead right when he said that this generation of West Indian cricketers do not play for the West Indies, would not put their lives at stake for the islands. That is why he does not want to give any importance to these cricketers. The passion is not there any more," said an old supporter of Caribbean cricket.

"Brian - he let us down in the Test," added another, pronouncing, as the Trinidadians do, Lara's first name "Brion." He was not happy at the way the prince of Trinidad got himself out in the second innings. The internal politics of the islands' cricket came to the front once again when the gallery commented, "Who told Hooper to play such a rash stroke at that crucial juncture of the match? Was the pull needed then?"

The West Indies are now trying to find reasons for the defeat. But after failing often in many of their recent matches, they are now a frustrated lot, and that was evident when the public implored Wes Hall, the president of the West Indies Cricket Board, to do something. "Last year the South Africans came and defeated us. Now it is India. Even in our country, we are no longer a winning team. Every country is beating us in our own backyard. When we will start winning at home again, can you tell us?" went the crowd's shouted remarks to Hall.

The legendary West Indian fast bowler could not reply. Later, he told this correspondent, "I really didn't expect the match to be so interesting. Congratulations to your team. They kept their nerve during the moments that mattered."

Hall may not have poured out his heart's tribulations, but as Board president, he is not allowed to do so either. The Trini Posse stand was more eloquent in its silence. They had come to the ground with the hope that Lara, Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul would give them a memorable victory, and they had to return home dejected.

Mervyn Dillon, the West Indian bowling spearhead, was quoted as saying, in a Trinidad daily on the fifth morning of the Test, that he would not have to come out and bat, and that Lara and Hooper would win the match for them. But he did have to pad up and bat, although Javagal Srinath had him off his very first delivery. He was not to be found in the dressing rooms after Zaheer Khan dismissed Cameron Cuffy.

All of Queen's Park Oval wore a disappointed look. They were unwilling to leave the stadium even after late into the evening. When we were coming out of the Park Oval, much of the outside area was covered in broken glass. No more solid evidence of the shattered hopes of the Caribbean people can be found.

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