There are probably more than two reasons for West Indies’ travails in coming to

There are probably more than two reasons for West Indies’ travails in coming to terms with one-day cricket in the 21st century. But, as with so much of their cricket, they do not come any deeper or any bigger than Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose.
In the World Cup last year, the fearsome pair enjoyed a kind of last hurrah. It did not quite succeed in taking them far in the competition, or indeed anywhere, but Walsh and Ambrose were the two most parsimonious bowlers in town. Walsh went for 2.29 runs an over, his partner for 2.35.If their team were vul-nerable with them, they were hardly about to experience overnight improvement without them. West Indies have played 29 one-day games since the World Cup. Walsh has appeared in 12 of them, Ambrose in 11, but not once have they been in the side together.As it happens, they have registered seven of their 11 wins with Ambrose, only three with Walsh.

But it means they have won only one of six when neither of the great fast bowlers has played, against Pakistan in a dead triangular match last April.Their combined loss is hard to bear, and it was again at Bristol on Thursday night when West Indies were soundly defeated by Zimbabwe in the opening game of the NatWest Series. Ambrose is at home in Antigua, keeping his explosive powder dry for the resumption of the Test series, Walsh was given the night off. How the side could do with the veterans’ nous, for nothing remains more effective in one-dayers than restricting batsmen’s scoring options.But West Indies have other problems, too. At their simplest, one-dayers are about acquiring as many runs as possible and making sure the opposition score fewer, no matter how many wickets you take. But it is a touch more sophisticated than that.These tourists, on the limited evidence so far, do not appear to be giving themselves the best chance of scoring as many runs as they should.

(The pitch at Bristol was certainly flatter than 232 from 50 overs). They appear to be confused about their game plan.It is hardly rocket science, and in truth it is barely school homework, but one-day innings have become three-act plays. They are split into the first 15 overs, when the plot unfolds, the middle 25, when some twists are likely (or not), and the final 10, when a dénouement of sorts can be expected.West Indies are having trouble in constructing this piece of theatre. They have yet to sort out their best opening partnership (but then so have England), and their use of Brian Lara at No 4 is mysterious.He possesses all the gifts for aNo 3, with the chance of getting in early enough to take the match away from the opposition. It is no coincidence that Sachin Tendulkar, the most formidable of all one-day batsman, opens. Equally, there may be a case for Jimmy Adams, the West Indies captain, to open, the plan being for him to bat all the way through.All is not lost. If nothing else, the defeat against Zimbabwe has opened up the tournament, and there are reasons to believe that West Indies may provide us with some of the batting that we associate with the Caribbean.

There is not only Lara, but also Ricardo Powell.We have had but a glimpse of his flair yet this summer, but in Singapore last autumn he was uncontrollably dynamic. In the final of the Coca-Cola Challenge he made 124 from 93 balls, including nine fours and eight sixes.The 21-year-old Jamaican has been described as a combination of Carl Hooper and Viv Richards. This would certainly help if West Indies are to get out of their latest hole.. Two of the heroes of England’s resurrection at Lord’s last Saturday, Mike Atherton and Dominic Cork, found themselves nose to nose in the less glorious surrounds of Derby yesterday. In keeping with the former England captain’s disdain for the county circuit, the Derbyshire skipper, who has been so instrumental in his team’s revival while in international exile, dismissed Lancashire’s opener for a duck. Two of the heroes of England’s resurrection at Lord’s last Saturday, Mike Atherton and Dominic Cork, found themselves nose to nose in the less glorious surrounds of Derby yesterday.

In keeping with the former England captain’s disdain for the county circuit, the Derbyshire skipper, who has been so instrumental in his team’s revival while in international exile, dismissed Lancashire’s opener for a duck.
This was a clash of the top and bottom teams in the County Championship’s First Division. Lancashire were hoping to overtake the leaders Yorkshire after beating them in the last round but, replying to the hosts’ 307, they were bundled out for 172 with the effervescent Cork grabbing 6 for 41, his best figures of the season. Atherton would have perceived a familiar county frailty as no other top-order batsman capitalised on decent starts.Somerset’s Marcus Tresco-thick was merrily making his mark on his England debut, leaving Piran Holloway to fill the breach against Hampshire at Taunton. The 29-year-old Cornish left-hander registered his first century of the season as the home side, resuming on 208 for 4, were eventually dismissed for 368, Shane Warne’s leg-spin earning 4 for 91.