Bore draw in the West Indies- test cricket at its worst

Coming from a background where cricket is our number one sport, I have grown up to appreciate test cricket and the beauty of a cover drive.

The finest player to ever grace such shot is former national team captain Michael Vaughan, under whom, England experienced their finest hour, after reclaiming the Ashes in 2005.

The 20/20 phenomenon is just a commercial gimmick, as any old Dick can smash a ball around a ground when there are only three fielders outside the circle.

The first test defeat against the West Indies, after a measly 52 all out, has to classed as one of the worst performances by a test nation, and meant England were, once again, a laughing stock.

People thought that after the Pietersen-Moores affair, the only way was up, but the team plunged to further lows.

Runs have been coming at a premium, with the teams scoring 566, 600 and 749.Good batting you may think, but the wickets have been flatter than a ran over hedgehog.

It is something that the authorities need to take a look at, as it seems grounds men are being ordered to roll such pitches so that tests go on for the full five days, but this is coming to the detriment of results being achieved.

Think back to the excitement of 2005, which turned out to be one of the greatest test series ever. Heroes such a Flintoff and Pietersen were made as the nation caught Ashes-fever.

The only thing caught in the West Indies so far, has been Daren Powell’s ankle in the ditches of the abandoned second test pitch.

What a farce!

And there is more controversy.

The referrals systems that is being used for the first time is a joke. I have never been a fan of technology as it undermines the ability of the on-field umpire, but when you have an incompetent buffoon in Darryl Hair, who has no idea how to use the equipment, it makes it more of a mockery.

Remove its use before more cock-ups occur.

This test series has been as entertaining as a joke in a Christmas cracker. Seeing the substance in my sixth-month-old nephew’s nappy has provided the family with more material to talk about than the cricket itself.

As to the state of the England team, you would have to be the biggest optimist to think that the side will recover by the time the Aussies arrive in June.

Sure, they’ve lost a number of illustrious players such as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Matthew Hayden from the last time we met, when they panned us 5-0, but look at what is coming through.

Phillip Hughes has become the youngest ever player to score centuries in both innings of a test match, against a South African side that would have topped the ranking had they beaten Australia.

Another hiding looks on the cards as the men from down-under look to continue to set the benchmark in international cricket.

Shamoon Hafez