Dear Sir,

Let me say from the outset that after watching the first Test match between West Indies and Australia I am in no doubt who the stronger team is. The Aussie batting line-up is not more experienced but their bowling offers far more variety than the West Indies attack.

While I have no choice but to accept my team's defeat I have to say that the West Indies loss at Bourda can be attributed primarily to the rather pathetic standard of umpiring exhibited than the team's performance. They did not deserve to lose that match!

Umpires Rudy Koertzen of South Africa and Ashoka DeSilva of Sri Lanka made what can only be described as a series of shockingly bad decisions on the opening day. First Koertzen gave Devon Smith out lbw to a ball that clearly hit his bat before it struck him on the pad. This decision may have caused a weaker player to become despondent but fortunately Smith is made of stronger stuff and replied in the second innings with a well-struck 62.

While it may be possible for Koertzen to improve his performance with the help of a very strong pair of spectacles and a hearing aid I am afraid neither of these would assist the obviously incompetent DeSilva. I honestly believe it was his dreadful decisions in West Indies first innings which proved to be the defining moments of the first Test.

In fact, he should be nominated for the 'man of the match' award as he had a bigger impact on the outcome of the game than any of the players.

DeSilva's first contentious decision came with the dismissal of West Indian captain Brian Lara to an Andy Bichel delivery, which may have been missing off stump. He followed by granting Bichel Chanderpaul's wicket to a ball which pitched outside leg stump, meaning that under the laws of cricket it should not have been given out.

Merv Dillon was then given out to Stuart MacGill to a leg-break which pitched outside off stump and would in all probability have missed it, a decision that led to plastic bottles being hurled onto the field by disgruntled spectators.

In the West Indies' second innings, true to form DeSilva maintained his poor performance by giving the unfortunate Wavell Hinds out when he was extravagantly forward to a MacGill leg-break headed wide of leg stump.

Now it is my understanding that both umpires sit on what is regarded as an elite panel of international umpires who are called upon to officiate at Test matches all over the world. But if they represent the 'elite' of umpiring then world cricket is in serious trouble.

There is no question in my mind that many of our local umpires such as Major Randy Butler, Roger Dill and Wilbur (Bullcat) Pitcher could do a better job than those two. The ICC would be well advised to review the decisions of the first Test. If they did so I am sure they would immediately suspend Koetzen indefinitely and subject him to both an eyesight and hearing test, while they would recommend DeSilva be paid his match fees and sent packing to Sri Lanka to search for alternative employment.

Despite the loss there were some positives to be derived from this match. The team showed a real fighting spirit. Chanderpaul, Lara and Ganga all scored marvellous centuries while the debutant Devon Smith showed he has something to offer with his impressive second innings knock.

Vasbert Drakes proved he is more than a one-day player and persevered to finish with five wickets in Australia's first innings. The biggest disappointments in the West Indies side in my opinion were Marlon Samuels and Merv Dillon, both of whose places in the side must come under scrutiny for the second Test.

RECMAN