Operation 'restore West Indian cricketing pride' started well enough with that battling draw in the first test at Lord's, writes Mali Richards.

Then a series of unfortunate events, mixed in with some all round poor cricket, contributed to the West Indies suffering their heaviest defeat in their 79-year Test history.

The loss of the most senior batsman Shiv Chanderpaul before the Test was a massive blow and coupled with the injury sustained to Ramnaresh Sarwan made an already fragile batting line-up look even more so.

OK the cards were stacked against us, but the level of application and technique exhibited by the West Indian batsmen fell a long way below the required standards.

Dwayne Bravo and to a lesser extent Devon Smith were the only players to show that their technique would be able to stand up to the test of the swinging ball.

Bravo played particularly well, especially in the second innings until his rash stroke against Panesar, but I think that is the difference between the two teams If it was Collingwood batting with the tail would he have played that shot? Or would he fight as hard as he could till the very end?

I think that both teams would be very concened about the potency of their bowling attacks.

England's pace attack has been misfiring so far this series with Ryan Sidebottom being the only exception.

West Indies, on the other hand, don't look like getting 20 wickets and their bowling has a predictability about it which Kevin Pietersen exploited to the max.

OK I know they share the same first name, but why is Fidel Edwards more scarce than Castro since his operation?

Australia have Shaun Tait, Sri Lanka have Malinga and the West Indies have Fidel, but don't use him.

Maybe the next time we see him will be on a milk carton in your nearest supermarket or newsagents.

I'm not too down though because there are still two Tests to go and anything can happen.

With Sarwan out for the rest of the series, I heard rumours of Brian Lara making a sensational comeback to the team.

With some of the things that have been happening in the cricketing world, and the recall of a guy called Beckham to the England football team, I wouldn't bet against seeing Lara strapping them on at Old Trafford.