When our first-class system is as weak as it is. When matches scheduled for four days finish inside of three.

When teams chasing a score of 255 fall from 73-0 to 123 all out in less than two sessions then there is no need to question why it is that the West Indies cricket team sucks.

For it is from this very tournament that players are chosen to represent the maroon-clad West Indies team on the international scene.

Many reasons have been put forward suggesting why the West Indies have declined from being the number one team in the world to one that is close to rock-bottom.

Some point to the exodus of the late Roy Fredericks, Gordon Greenidge, Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Alvin Kallicharran, Andy Roberts and others, all of whom were seasoned pros plying the trade for the English counties such as Glamorgan, Lancashire and Hampshire in the English Leagues.

Some point to the dress of the modern-day West Indian batsman with heavy gold chains around the necks, earrings and designer shades as contributing to the problem.

Some point to the work ethic or lack of, players who seem not to have that burning desire to win for the region.

Some point to coaching and a simple example is this.

If you look at the other teams you see evidence of proper coaching in the way they do the simplest things such as taking a catch overhead.

Notice the difference in the way players from South Africa and Australia take the ball to the West Indies way and you will get the picture.

But perhaps the real answer lies in our first-class system.

The fact of the matter is that the region's cricket czars have not pumped money into the first-class system to help improve the standard of play. Perhaps they will argue that there is no money and that may well be so.