Too much

There has never been clearer evidence of too much international cricket than the first Test.

Chris Gayle, the West Indies captain, turned up with only 48 hours to spare, and both as a batsman and as captain, gives an exhibition of lackadaisical boredom. The rest - with the honourable exception of Brendon Nash and Fidel Edwards - followed the Gayle lead.

West Indies have a ready-made excuse. They were the substitutes for the stand-ins; Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka both dropped out. ECB could not afford to lose all that TV cash. Windies decided to take their offer of an enhanced payment and go home as soon as possible. Never mind the result; besides didn't we beat England already this year.

England will probably win the series 2-0 but as for providing the impetus Andrew Strauss has demanded: forget it. There has been incessant, senseless player chatter about "only being able to play against the side that turns up."

The trouble no-one is sure West Indies did turn up. Remember - just one more Test before the Aussies arrive.