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Press slam West Indies horror story

April 04, 2004 19:32 IST

Newspapers described West Indies' defeat by England as a crying shame and a horror story on Sunday after the visitors won their first series in the Caribbean for 36 years.

Inspired by Matthew Hoggard's hat-trick, England's eight-wicket victory in the third Test on Saturday gave them a 3-0 lead in the four-match series.

It also kept alive the possibility of West Indies being whitewashed at home for the first time in their history.

"It's no longer a drama, it's a horror story," Barbados newspaper Sunday Sun said. "(West Indies captain) Brian Lara tried to look upbeat, but he was beaten and disgraced."

The Barbados Advocate said West Indies had been "Hogged and Harmed" by the bowling of Hoggard and Steve Harmison, who did so much for the England cause.

The press singled out Lara for praise in his batting efforts on Saturday after he battled for almost two hours for 33 while the rest of his team folded around him.

"To lose like this and to England, hurts," former West Indies fast bowler Wes Hall said.

Journalist and commentator Tony Cozier wrote in his Sunday Sun column: "In 40 years covering West Indies cricket, I have never known the depth of frustration, hopelessness and downright anger that now exists."

Comment pieces in more than one newspaper called for the introduction of a foreign coach to instil some discipline in the team, while Cozier said West Indies could only fear what might happen in the fourth Test, starting in Antigua on Saturday.

"What is needed is for a professional, outside organisation to assess the workings of the board and recommend instant ways of improvement.

"In the meantime, we prepare for the next humiliation." he wrote.


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