Denesh Ramdin

	I am pleased with my wicketkeeping but I am disappointed to have made little impression with the bat © AFP

I know fans are likely to say there’s nothing to play for in the remaining two one-day internationals this weekend in South Africa. However, I believe that even though we have already surrendered the series 3-0, there’s a lot to be gained – especially if we can execute our game plan – in the final one-dayers on Friday and Sunday. We have already demonstrated on tour that we have the arsenal to beat South Africa and it would be great if we can do so on at least one more occasion before departing for home next week.

This, I think, would give us in the Windies camp a significant boost in confidence, particularly as we have been hampered by injuries to some of our top players. In addition, it would underline that we are capable of high standards and excelling among the sport’s premier teams once we perform to our optimum potential. I think South Africa has realised that, given our results earlier in the series. Unfortunately though, we have not been consistent on the field – and that’s why we have been outclassed.

We started our tour on a high against Graeme Smith’s team but I think we relaxed a bit and South Africa then came to the fore and have shown why they are among the best in all forms of cricket. We have faltered at critical junctures and not handled pressure as well as the opposition has done at key moments. Their experience has stood out against us.

Going into last Sunday’s decisive fixture in Port Elizabeth, I felt we had a very good chance of turning the tables on the hosts. After all, St George’s had been the scene of our historic Test victory and we had also won the first Twenty20 international there. So, we seemed to have the advantage over South Africa who had not enjoyed a good overall record on that ground – though they were already 2-0 up in the five-match one-day series.

Our stand-in skipper, Dwayne Bravo, won the toss and chose to bat. Opener Sewnarine Chattergoon built a solid foundation for us and Marlon Samuels played exceptionally well in the latter part of the innings to get us up to 252 for 7. It was a challenging total but we struggled somewhat in the middle of our 50 overs and didn’t accumulate runs as freely as we would have liked.

Also, we did not defend our score well. Our bowlers needed to produce more dot balls and wicket-taking deliveries. Instead, South Africa picked off boundaries easily which allowed them the comfort of working the ball around. Jacques Kallis’ unbeaten century gave South Africa the necessary momentum to seal the deal. He shepherded his team to a seven-wicket triumph as the pitch flattened out and transformed into a batting paradise.

Despite losing Sunday’s game – and the one-day series with it – we are remaining positive and are continuing to work hard in the nets. There’s obviously room for improvement and each of us knows we must pull our weight. It’s the only way we can win the upcoming games.

I am pleased with my wicketkeeping – which has come a long way – but I am disappointed to have made little impression with the bat. I am a bit concerned that I have not been able to carry on when I have gotten starts. I need to be scoring much more runs and, even though it’s too late for any silverware glory, this will be my goal for the final matches on this tour.

It’s been a few days since I returned home to Jamaica from South Africa and, despite the West Indies’ recent defeats to the Proteas, a lot of people have expressed positive feelings to me about our performance in Zimbabwe and in the first couple games in South Africa.

Naturally, like me, they were disappointed that I was unable to play throughout the tour which began very well for us with a 3-1 victory in the one-day series in Zimbabwe and wins in the first Twenty20 and Test match against South Africa.

I really appreciated the fans’ sentiments and well wishes for a full and speedy recovery to allow me to start playing cricket as soon as possible again. Thanks to all who have commented to me, it’s been very encouraging and I’m looking forward to being back on the field in the maroon cap once I’m fit and healthy.

My hamstring and left thumb continue to improve steadily but, as I have stated before, I will not rush my return to competitive cricket. Even though the Windies physio had indicated that I should be able to hold a bat by January 26, I’m giving my thumb another week and then I will test things out.

In the meantime, I’ve been running and working out in the gym. In addition, I’ve been to a couple training sessions with the Jamaica national squad which is now preparing for the Stanford 20/20 tournament after winning their first three matches in the regional four-day competition, the Carib Beer series. Overall, things are looking up and I hope it is sooner rather than later that I will be back in action, with runs flowing from my bat.

After all, the reality is that I was starved of cricket on tour – having suffered the hamstring injury in the second ODI in Zimbabwe and then having my thumb broken by an Andre Nel delivery in the second Test in Cape Town. In total, I played in one-and-a-half one-dayers and two Tests. So, I definitely need to get some cricket under my belt.

It’s also been critical to get back into my fitness routine quickly because of all the great food I’ve been eating since I landed in Kingston. I’ve had almost everything you can think of – ackee and saltfish, patties, curried goat, etc. To top it all off, my mum cooked me my big Christmas dinner which I missed out on in December. I’m still licking my lips. So, you see why I need to keep training!

Of course, I was sorry to see my team-mates lose the one-day series to South Africa yesterday with two games to go. We managed a decent total of 252 for 7 in 50 overs, though we got off to a slow start. Marlon Samuels was again the anchor of our batting with an impressive 98 while wickets tumbled around him. It’s a pity that, for the second time on tour, he missed out on a century at Port Elizabeth; having scored 94 at that venue in the opening Test which we won. There were also good innings from Sewnarine Chattergoon (52) and debutant, Patrick Browne (35).

St. George’s is a decent pitch and it was always going to be a challenge to blast out Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and company on that wicket. The Proteas romped home by seven wickets and we are now 3-0 down in the five-match series. However, we must keep our heads high and the guys have to play for pride in the remaining fixtures. It would still be nice to win them and come home with some positives.

South Africa play hard and will be intent on a five-nil rout. If we can rally our troops, and give of our best in these two last games, we can thwart their ambitions of a whitewash.

Ramnaresh Sarwan

	If the team can recapture the consistency and focus which they had earlier in the tour, they can be victorious © AFP

West Indies have an opportunity to rebound in the one-day internationals against South Africa with two matches this weekend (today and Sunday) in the five-rubber series. They are currently 1-0 down to the hosts but I believe that, if the team can recapture the consistency and focus which they had earlier in the tour, they can be victorious.

The guys performed creditably in the second Twenty20 International and the first one-dayer last weekend and, with a little luck, they could have won those games. Improved performances with both bat and ball would be the decisive difference. While they will miss Chris Gayle’s inspirational leadership and influence – now that he has returned home due to injury – it’s important that the Windies stick together and support Dwayne [Bravo] in these remaining four matches.

A critical factor will be for the team to capitalise when they have the momentum and not let South Africa off the hook. I look forward to some exciting action on television and hope that things fall into place for my team-mates this weekend.

Meanwhile, here in the Caribbean, the focus will be on the second edition of the Stanford 20/20 Tournament which gets underway this weekend in Antigua.

As the defending champions in this spectacular event, we in Guyana will obviously be looking to repeat last year’s success and take home the US$1 million winners’ cheque again. However, I expect it will be much more competitive on this occasion with teams having a better grasp of what’s required in Twenty20 cricket. Last year, Twenty20 was still a fairly new concept but its popularity has grown immeasurably since then and cricketers worldwide have become more adept at playing this form of the game.

In short, we have our work cut out for us if we are to prevail once more as the kings of fast-food cricket in the Caribbean. The Guyanese squad has already undergone a number of camps and training sessions and our build-up continues until February 8 when we leave to embark on our mission. I hope we can also have a few practice games to help us fine-tune things.

Our unit for the 20/20 outing will be significantly different from the side that has been representing Guyana in the Carib Beer Cricket Series. We are bringing back experienced allrounders, such as Neil McGarrell, Mahendra Nagamootoo and Lennox Cush. That’s what Twenty20 matches need – persons who can bat and bowl so that a team has as much depth as possible.

I’m looking forward to playing in this event again and having not scored many runs in last week’s Carib Beer Cricket Series match against Jamaica – which we lost in three days – I am also keen to get back in form quickly. It will also be another step in my rehabilitation en route to playing for West Indies again. My ankle has been improving slowly but surely and I want to see how it will hold up during the rigorous and hectic schedule we will face in Antigua.

I trust this competition will go a long way to testing just how fit and ready I am to return to the Windies fold.

Denesh Ramdin

	We had our opportunities in these [recent] games but we couldn’t capitalise on them © Getty Images

Things have not gone our way as we move into the latter stage of our South African tour.

Last Friday, we lost the second Twenty20 international by four wickets and followed that up with a six-wicket defeat to South Africa in Sunday’s one-day international. In both instances, we were in with a chance of winning deep into the matches but, ultimately, we couldn’t come up with the killer blows when necessary. That's what was lacking.

In the Twenty20 in Johannesburg, we scored 131 for 7 in 20 overs to which South Africa replied with 134 for 6 in 19.2 overs. Then in the rain-abbreviated one-dayer in Centurion, we managed 175 all out in 35.5 of our 36 overs, and South Africa romped to victory with 176 for 4 off 34 overs.

At either location, the toss proved critical and we lost both and were sent in to bat. In Johannesburg, the pitch was slow and damp and we couldn’t get away to the start we needed. The ball was swinging and you had to be patient and graft and the pressure was building up because the overs were disappearing. South Africa really had us on the back foot. I opened the innings with Devon Smith and got the second-highest score of 19.

In the field, we had mixed fortunes as our bowlers produced some wicket-taking deliveries but then some short and wide balls too. There was often a ‘four ball’ in each over and that helped ease the pressure, especially towards the end when Shaun Pollock’s experience was the decisive difference. He usually stars with the ball but, on this occasion, he showed his prowess with the bat as well to seal his team’s triumph.

Things were much the same in the one-dayer, where we were asked to bat in overcast and rainy conditions which had already prevented us from playing a full 50-overs encounter. We were looking for a score of 190 to 210 but, as Graeme Smith’s team made early and consistent inroads into our batting, and we had to try and consolidate. At 81 for 6 – when I was out for just 3 in the 22nd over – we were in a dismal position but Darren Sammy and Runako Morton produced a gutsy 69-run partnership for the seventh wicket to put some respectability on our scoreboard. Sammy in particular was impressive, taking the attack to South Africa with some positive shots. He richly deserved his half-century.

As I said before, we had our opportunities in these games but we couldn’t capitalise on them. Having the opposition reeling on 4 for 2 was a great start to defending our modest total and we should have seized the momentum. However, two things happened. First, there was a 55-run stand between JP Duminy and Jacques Kallis for the third wicket, which stabilised the South African innings, and then more importantly there was a leg-before appeal against Duminy which was turned down. The replay showed the ball would have struck middle and leg. It was a match-altering decision as Duminy spearheaded his side’s success with an unbeaten 79.

Despite losing both games – and in the process splitting the Twenty20 series 1-1 with South Africa – I think there was much for us to take heart from last weekend. Another 20 or 30 runs in either contest could have made a massive difference in the result. In addition, we needed to bowl more consistently. I believe we can sharpen up and be competitive in the remaining four one-dayers.

The early departure of our skipper, Chris Gayle, is a significant loss but we appreciate that, given his injuries, he will be unable to take further part in the series. We look forward to his speedy and full recovery in time for our upcoming battles versus Sri Lanka and Australia in the Caribbean.

Now, we need to rally together as a team and continue to produce the quality performances which Chris would be proud of and to end our tour on a high.

	Chris Gayle broke his thumb in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town © Getty Images

Unfortunately the news today is not good – well, maybe that depends on how you look at it.

My tour of South Africa is coming to a premature conclusion because of my thumb and hamstring injuries. Given the most recent prognosis that I will require at least another two weeks of recovery before I could even consider picking up a bat again – furthermore being declared match fit – I have been granted permission by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to return home to Jamaica to concentrate on getting better.

As a result, I will be leaving Johannesburg as soon as possible – perhaps this evening – and should arrive in Kingston later this week, travelling via London.

It was far from an easy decision. I would love to be out on the field with the guys, fighting for the West Indies. There was some thought that I might be able to play in the ongoing one-day series in South Africa but that is not to be as our physio, C.J. Clarke has said that – based on a recent x-ray of my broken left thumb – I wouldn’t be able to do any batting before January 26 at earliest.

I had already been feeling quite frustrated at just sitting around and having to watch my team-mates battling out in the middle without any contribution from me. This injury update only made me feel worse. I therefore spoke to team management and the WICB chief executive, Dr. Donald Peters, who was here in South Africa, and expressed the view that it would be best for me to head back to the Caribbean immediately and focus on recovering fully. Sitting on the sidelines was really beginning to affect me.

While I’m sorry to leave South Africa on such a sad note, I have spoken with the guys and they understand perfectly. We will be hosting two top teams, Sri Lanka and Australia, in the coming months and I definitely want to be 100 percent fit for those matches. So leaving the tour is the most logical step at this stage.

I have wished Dwayne (Bravo) and all the players the very best for the rest of the South Africa series. I know they will give their all and try to win the series. We played decent cricket in the second Twenty20 last Friday and in the first one-dayer yesterday, but we came up short in both games, losing by four and six wickets respectively.

We just need to continue believing in ourselves and in the knowledge that we have beaten South Africa before and that we can do it again. Our batsmen must get better starts to give us a foundation on which to build. I have to say though that the pitches in these last two games were not the easiest to bat on. Our bowlers have been doing well overall but it’s hard to get ten wickets in a one-dayer sometimes with the fielding restrictions and the guys spread so far apart. I think our problem is in the ‘middle period’ of the match and that’s where South Africa has been able to get away from us. We will need to concentrate on restricting the runs if wickets are hard to get. I truly wish the West Indies well and look forward to watching the remainder of the series on television.

Before I forget, I want to hail the Jamaica national team for their outstanding performances in the Carib Beer Cricket Series so far, winning all three of their matches. I hope they can continue improving and lift the title this year. Great going guys! See you soon!

Finally, I want to thank fans for their support and encouragement throughout the tour on the African continent. As always, it was an honour to represent and captain the West Indies and I’m looking forward to returning to the team once I am fully fit. I trust that will be sooner rather than later.

Ramnaresh Sarwan

	I’m getting more and more into the groove with the bat and was happy to score some decent runs against Barbados © The Nation

Though I’m currently out of the West Indies squad, I’ve somewhat had a taste of the kind of tough battle they have experienced lately.

While the Windies plummeted to defeat by an innings and 100 runs in the decisive third Test against South Africa, I suffered a similar fate with the Guyana national team on Monday in the Carib Beer Series. We were beaten by Barbados, by an innings and 57 runs at the Kensington Oval. Just as with the West Indies, we batted first and were dismissed cheaply and then toiled long and hard in the field. Our opponents piled up massive replies, in excess of 500 runs each.

As a result, we and the Windies had our backs against the wall and though – in either case – the teams batted better in the second innings, it was always going to be difficult to avoid defeat. In the same way that losing in Durban sealed the Windies’ fate in the Test series, our defeat has set us back severely in the quest for the regional four-day championship.

Having lost our first two games outright makes winning the title a daunting and possibly far-fetched prospect. Nonetheless, I’m determined that we will continue striving to give a good account of ourselves. You never know what can happen if we get a few positive results.

I want my young team to understand what first-class cricket is about and to focus on doing the basics correctly. A lot of our players don’t have much experience at this level and it showed in the bowling and batting so I can’t blame them for how they have performed. It’s a sharp learning curve and I just want to help them develop and improve.

On a personal note, I’m getting more and more into the groove with the bat and was happy to score some decent runs against Barbados. However, I should have gone on and made a century in the second innings, but unfortunately I was out for 82. My ankle is also becoming stronger, though there’s still some soreness after I bat.

I must congratulate Barbados for clinically executing their game plan against us. Ryan Hinds batted very well and newcomer Kemar Roach bowled impressively. Our imminent assignment versus Jamaica will be equally challenging but I hope we can leave Kingston with our first points. It would be a great boost for my players.

Before I close this diary, I want to wish the West Indies all the best in the upcoming ODI series. I know the guys lost the Tests 2-1 but they don’t have anything to be ashamed of. They fought well in the first two Tests and in the second innings of the third one at Kingsmead. We must now have the self-belief that, if we play at a consistently high level, we can match the top teams in international cricket. This is the kind of mindset that our players will require if we are to excel in the one-dayers, which I think we have a good chance of winning.

Denesh Ramdin

	'Despite the circumstances, I know we have earned quite a bit of respect over here, both from the South African team and from the fans' © Getty Images

I would like to start this week’s diary by congratulating South Africa for a well deserved 2-1 victory in the Test series against us. That does not mean that I – like all the other Windies players – was not bitterly disappointed to lose (especially after our 1-0 lead in Port Elizabeth). It’s just that I appreciate that they played better cricket and seized the majority of their chances. The manner in which the South Africans executed their game plan and took us out of the decisive match in Durban was an example of the consistency and level of professionalism that is needed to be among the top teams in international cricket.

After we lost the toss and were sent in to bat, it was always going to be a challenge to negotiate the lively pitch at Kingsmead. To make matters worse, South Africa bowled particularly well and we were dismissed very cheaply. Then, the pitch and conditions changed, batting became much easier and the opposition played us out of the deciding game with a massive first-innings score. It was always going to be a tough task to overhaul a deficit of more than 400 runs. As it was, we lost by an innings and 100 runs.

I managed the top score of 30 in our inadequate first innings of 139 and then 25 in the second time. It was again frustrating to get starts but not make a substantial impact.

I’m not seeking to make any excuses for how we performed but I’m compelled to say that the absence of our captain Chris Gayle (through injury), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (through illness in the second innings) and stand-in skipper Dwayne Bravo (through injury which prevented him from bowling) hampered us tremendously in the final Test. I believe it could have been a far different issue had we been at full strength.

Despite the circumstances, I know we have earned quite a bit of respect over here, both from the South African team and from the fans. The latter enjoyed the fact that we challenged the South Africans in the first two Tests and, to some extent, showed a similar fighting spirit in Durban.

Now, it’s back to the shortened version of the game with five one-day internationals following the second Twenty20 International on Friday. We have put the Test series behind us and are now focusing on the upcoming matches. We would love to win the second Twenty20 as – having triumphed in the first game in December – it would mean we clinch that series. It would be great to return home with some trophies.

I’m continuing to improve, and if given the opportunity to bat higher in the one-dayers, try and get some runs and post a big score for the team. I’ve been enjoying my time in South Africa. It’s a beautiful country and we have been well treated. Some of us tried paintball shooting earlier this week and had a blast. Now, it’s back to work on the field and we will be giving it our best shot as usual.

	'I also want to hail Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels (above) for their gutsy batting at various times' © Getty Images

Well, the Test series against South Africa is over and unfortunately we were beaten in the final match in Durban by an innings and 100 runs.

There’s really no point in sulking over our performance. I think by now everyone knows what we did wrong and where our plans fell apart. Suffice to say that when any team is dismissed for 139 quickly on the opening day of a Test – and then faces a first-innings deficit of more than 400 runs – it would take a miracle to escape defeat.

South Africa batted us out of the game and again, in our second turn at the crease, we failed with the bat, though we did better than in the first innings. There’s no excuse and I don’t intend to make any. As I’ve been saying all along, consistency is the key. If we fail to execute our game plan then we won’t win.

Still, as we shift our attention to the five ODIs, I can say that there are a number of positives which I will take from the Test matches. Overall, I thought we put up a good fight and gave South Africa something to think about. Winning in Port Elizabeth and taking a lead in the three Tests really surprised them. We also fought well in Cape Town and kept ourselves in the game until the fourth day when it ended.

If fans are honest they will admit that they didn’t expect us to perform as well as we did in the first two matches. I need to give the guys credit for showing that we can compete against the best in international cricket. While there are clearly improvements still to be made we’ve shown that we can reach the required standard. I also want to hail Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels for their gutsy batting at various times. When our bowlers got the ball in the right spot, they proved a force to be reckoned with as well.

Of course, it was frustrating for me to be restricted to the pavilion for the third Test with a broken thumb and a sore right hamstring. I really wanted to be out on the field with my team-mates. However, I know it’s best for me to recover fully before playing competitive cricket again. Right now, I’m just doing some light jogging and continuing my treatment for the hamstring ailment. I’m not going to take any chances and get re-injured so I won’t be playing unless I’m totally fit and ready to do so.

The team must now focus on the abbreviated form of the game for the next three weeks, with the second of our two Twenty20 Internationals against South Africa to be held on Wednesday at New Wanderers in Johannesburg and five one-dayers thereafter. We need to get a jump on the South Africans and it would be good to set the tone for the series by winning the second Twenty20 as we did the first match back in mid-December.

Buoyed by their Test success, I know South Africa will come at us very hard and we have to be able to keep our spirits and confidence high. Once we do that, and perform well on the field, I believe we can come away victorious.

	West Indies were bowled out for 139 in their first innings and they will need a much better effort when they bat again © Getty Images

The West Indies players will need to show their mettle if they are to get out of the current dire situation in which they have gotten themselves in, less than two days into the third and final Test against South Africa.

As I write this diary, South Africa are already moving in for the kill in Durban, having built up a lead of more than 250 runs over the Windies, who were dismissed for a meagre 139 just after lunch on the opening day. I was very shocked to see what happened to my team-mates when I woke up yesterday morning.

By the time I tuned in, South Africa were batting and were looking to score, I thought that rain must have fallen and that the match therefore started late. I had no idea that we had batted and done so poorly. It was definitely not the start we needed in any bid to try and force a victory. As it stands now, it will require sterling fight-back if we are even to draw the game.

From what I observed, it’s evident that Chris (Gayle) not being there is a huge factor, both from a batting and leadership perspective. His presence out in the middle is always ominous for the opposition and South Africa would view his injury-induced absence as a great advantage.

The guys have to put what’s happened so far behind them and try and stay as mentally strong as possible. The bowlers need to get the ball in the right areas and create chances. The execution of the Windies game an, at this stage, will be critical. We must revert to how we played in Port Elizabeth where we took the a 1-0 series lead. Once we do that – and stay patient – we should be able to get wickets. It will still be a long way back though and our batsmen, whenever they embark on the second innings, will face a mammoth assignment. However, they can take heart from knowing that this is the stuff of which potentially epic Test matches are made.

Meanwhile, I will be busy on the field myself, starting today as I lead Guyana in the second round of the Carib Beer Cricket Series against Barbados.

Having lost our first match by nine wickets to Trinidad & Tobago – and a resurgent Brian Lara – we cannot afford to leave Kensington Oval without any points, even if only first innings points. I was disappointed that we were beaten but personally I was happy with how I played, getting among the runs with 63 and 105 not out in my two turns at the crease. I experienced some soreness in my right ankle, which has had me on the sidelines since last October, and I was a bit concerned. However, it appears to be improving and I just need to be careful and not put too much pressure on it.

I was a little nervous when I initially took my guard at Queen’s Park Oval but, once I got off the mark, everything fell into place. I concentrated on doing the basics correctly and playing myself into form. In the second innings, I was also mindful of the fact that my team was in a bad position and – with wickets falling around me – I had to remain calm and be somewhat cautious in my approach. However, when a ball was there to be hit, I picked my spot and struck it.

My century came off 130 balls, which is fairly fast, and this has boosted my confidence ahead of this weekend’s encounter. Barbados is always a very competitive team, especially at home. They are strong in bowling and batting and we must be able to match their effort if we are to come away with anything and remain in contention for the regional championship.

	Daren Ganga and I tried to rotate the strike as much as possible and get runs wherever possible. The South African bowlers were quite accurate in their line and length and it was hard to score © Getty Images

Denesh Ramdin

We start the last of three Test matches against South Africa in a position that very few people expected we would be in at this stage.

We have had some challenges, especially with key players suffering injuries at critical junctures, but we are determined to persevere and seek a historic and victorious conclusion.

None of us is thinking about a draw. We are going out there to win this Test and we will be trying to execute our plans in that vein. We are going to give it our all at Kingsmead.

Over the past few days, we have been back in the nets working hard to correct the things which cost us the second Test in Cape Town. The guys are happy and relaxed and are looking forward to this match. We are confident that if we do things right consistently and support each other on the field – build partnerships, bowl in the right areas and field well – that we will be in a position to pressure South Africa.

In essence, we just have to emulate our performance in the opening Test in Port Elizabeth.

Naturally, the loss of our captain, Chris Gayle, for this crucial match – due to a fractured thumb – is a massive setback but we have to overcome that and move on. I’m not sure about the status of fast bowler, Fidel Edwards, who suffered a hamstring injury early in the Cape Town clash. I hope he will be able to play, but we will still have to proceed with our mission even if he too is sidelined.

The team has put the disappointment of our seven-wicket loss in the second Test behind us. Though we were beaten in four days, we were not disgraced and I want to congratulate my team-mates on the effort and grit which they displayed in that game. We were in the match for most of it and, with a little more application and luck, the tide could have swung our way decisively.

We needed a bigger first-innings score – in excess of 400 runs, I think, would have put us in command of the match – but we only managed 243. Then South Africa’s sixth-wicket partnership of 129 between Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher seized the advantage from us and was the basis for a 78-run first-innings lead for South Africa.

Regarding my promotion to open the second innings with my Trinidad & Tobago captain, Daren Ganga, I readily embraced this responsibility which stemmed from the fact that Gayle was having some trouble with his right hamstring which is still not fully healed.

I was happy to help my team in any way I could and Daren and I were able to see off the new-ball bowlers and post a decent partnership of 59. It was a great opportunity for me to spend some time at the crease and Daren helped me a lot by talking to me and advising me on what to do. We tried to rotate the strike as much as possible and get runs wherever possible. The South African bowlers were quite accurate in their line and length and it was hard to score.

In the end, the target which we set South Africa of 185 runs was not enough. We are learning from each match and, hopefully, the lessons from our defeat will help us rebound here in Durban.

I will, of course, want to resume where I left off with the bat and get a bigger score to contribute to West Indies’ cause. If every player can chip in somehow, I’m confident we will excel again and possibly even come out on top.

Chris Gayle

	Even worse than losing the match was the expected prognosis that my thumb injury will necessitate another layoff of two to three weeks © Getty Images

How quickly things change in a week.

In my last diary, we were basking in the glory of having upset South Africa in the first of the three Test matches. Now, the stakes are even 1-1 with one to go in Durban, starting on Thursday.

Our seven-wicket loss in four days at Newlands in Cape Town was very disappointing, given how well we had battled to victory in Port Elizabeth. Yes, we fought – and at times held our own – in the second encounter but, in the end, our effort fell short. We definitely did not bat as well as we did in the first match and returns of 243 and 262 were just not good enough, though Shivnarine Chanderpaul stood out with unbeaten scores of 65 and 70. We really should have scored at least 350 in our initial outing at the crease.

I’m never one to make excuses but the injuries to myself and fast bowler Fidel Edwards certainly impacted the team’s overall performance. Fidel played a major role in our victory charge at St George’s Park, and though Dwayne Bravo was outstanding with the ball in South Africa’s first innings of 321, we definitely missed Fidel’s pace and venom in our attack.

Getting struck on my left thumb by Andre Nel early on the fourth morning, when I was preparing to dig in for a long knock, was a huge misfortune. I can’t lie; that was some terrible pain. It hurt badly and I already had to be careful with my right hamstring, which is not fully healed and prevented me taking my place at the top of the order in the second innings. The news that my thumb was fractured really deflated me but I decided that, as we were still in with a chance in Cape Town, I would bear the pain and try to get the team up to a reasonable score. Shiv [Chanderpaul] and I hit some lusty blows but unfortunately we needed more than the target of 185 to challenge South Africa.

Even worse than losing the match was the expected prognosis that my thumb injury will necessitate another layoff of two to three weeks so I’m definitely out of the final and deciding Test match. I’m not sure about Fidel though. I hope he can play because having him is a significant advantage for us.

I strongly believe that we can still beat South Africa – the No. 2 team in Test cricket – but we will have to put Cape Town behind us and get back to the high standard which we set in Port Elizabeth. We will have to fight even harder and give an improved performance with the bat if we are to pull off what would be a magnificent series success.

It will be frustrating for me to be on the sidelines but that’s life. I will still be supporting the guys and giving them all the advice which I can. I really hope we can win and give fans even more reason to believe in us.

Ramnaresh Sarwan

	I’m eager to get back in the middle and score some runs after my recent ankle injury © Getty Images

It’s been a truly memorable start to 2008 for West Indian fans all across the world.

Just days ago, the majority of the cricketing world was writing us off against South Africa even before a ball was bowled in the first Test. Now, we’ve done the unthinkable and gone 1-0 ahead in the three-match rubber. It’s confounded the critics and given Windies supporters just the lift they needed to go into the New Year. In addition, we’re competing keenly in the ongoing second Test, though we’ve got some work to do in our second innings, having been led by 78 runs in the first innings.

I was ecstatic with the performance which the guys put in last Saturday in a historic maiden Test triumph on South African soil. It was an unforgettable occasion and I extend my congratulations to Chris [Gayle] and all my team-mates who made us extremely proud.

The most pleasing aspect of the team’s success was the fact that though they faltered in batting on the third afternoon – losing six wickets for 22 runs – they held their composure and completed the job. In the past, we’ve been guilty of grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory and I hope what we achieved in Port Elizabeth means that we are maturing and learning how to overcome setbacks in matches and not let them derail our overall game plans. It was a huge step for us.

I was confident that a target of 389 was enough to beat even the best that South Africa could produce against West Indies. We just had to keep our heads and not be ruffled even when Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers posted 112 for the fifth wicket in their chase. Once we broke that partnership, I was sure it was all but over for the hosts.

As Chris said in his most recent diary, it was a massive team effort, with all our boys pitching in and playing a part at some stage. Once again, Marlon Samuels stood out with the bat, scoring 40 in the second innings to complement his polished 94 in our first innings. He was a worthy Man-of-the-Match recipient. Our bowlers came to the party in the hunt for victory and life was never easy for South Africa’s batsmen. The Windies’ catching was pretty good also and we held vital chances.

Having the underdogs leading the series now gives it a greater level of interest that will ensure fans stay tuned. What they [the fans] want to see is a real tussle and so far we have been up to the task. In the second Test, we need to dig in and get a strong second-innings score. Our first priority must be to ensure we don’t lose the match and then take it from there. Remember we are 1-0 up and it’s Graeme Smith and Co who need to make the running at Newlands in Cape Town. It would be fantastic if we can head to Durban for the final Test still having the lead and therefore put even more pressure on the home side.

Meanwhile, I will be leading the Guyana national team in the regional Carib Beer Cricket Series which begins today across the Caribbean. We’re opposing Trinidad & Tobago in the first round at Queen’s Park Oval. I’m eager to get back in the middle and score some runs after my recent ankle injury. This will be a big test for me.

Though our preparations were hampered by constant rain in Guyana, I’m confident that we will give a good account of ourselves. We’re determined to get off to a strong start in the tournament so that we can challenge for the title. I expect keen competition from all our opponents who will have similar ambitions.

Let the games begin!

Denesh Ramdin

	It was simply awesome to experience winning a Test match for the first time © Getty Images

What a way to end 2007 – with my maiden Test victory!

In all the time I’ve been playing cricket – at junior, senior, regional and international level – I’ve never known such a feeling. It was simply awesome to experience winning a Test match for the first time, and against a team as strong as South Africa, after more than two years in the West Indies side.

In addition, the nature and tone of our success in Port Elizabeth - in that we executed our plans, dominated the match and finished it in four days - made the outcome all the better. It was very special as we had not won a Test match for more than two years and had never won in South Africa.

It was clearly a big shock to South Africa and their fans. They never expected us to win any matches but we’ve already beaten them twice on this tour; first in the Twenty20 international and now in the first of the three Tests. I don’t think they will take us for granted anymore and we can’t get lazy either. They will come back at us very hard in the second Test in Cape Town.

We honestly deserve the rewards we have reaped so far because we have been working hard as a team. We believed in ourselves, listened to our captain, stuck to our game plan and we came out on top at St George’s Park. Our coach was telling us to be “patient” in batting and bowling and that, if we kept focus, we would be able to put South Africa under pressure – and that’s exactly what happened.

Personally, I began to sense a Windies victory when we made early inroads in South Africa’s second innings. Having them reeling on 45 for 4 – with a target of 389 – was a huge boost in our quest. It set them back severely in their run-chase. Also, the pitch was a little difficult [to bat on] and we knew there was still something in it for our bowlers. Once we got Jacques Kallis, we continued to pick up wickets consistently and triumphed by 128 runs on the fourth evening.

It was truly a team effort, with all of us playing a part at some stage. However, I must say that having Chris [Gayle] back at the helm was a great lift for the guys. He is a real inspiration to us by the manner in which he bats and I think his being at the top of the [batting] order played on the minds of the South Africans. The way he and Daren [Ganga] took on the new-ball bowlers, Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini, and got us off to a fantastic start, both score-wise and psychologically. As captain, Chris also made a number of crucial decisions which bore fruit.

I had a decent match behind the stumps, taking four catches. I didn’t have to dive a lot as the bowlers kept the ball in the right areas. I was disappointed, though, that I didn’t make a contribution with the bat and I know it’s been a few Test matches since I have done so. It’s time I put some runs on the board for my team and I will be doing my utmost to rectify this situation quickly.

Relief wicketkeeper, Patrick Browne, has recently arrived from Barbados. Contrary to what some may think, I welcome his addition to the squad as this will allow me more opportunity to concentrate on my batting in the nets, knowing that someone else is around to share wicketkeeping duties at practice. It will definitely relieve some of the pressure on me.

As expected after such a significant achievement, the team spirit is even higher. The guys are continuing to get along well and are enjoying the challenge of playing against the No. 2 team in Test cricket. We are thriving on it.

We will enter today’s critical match at the picturesque Newlands ground confident and relaxed – but not complacent. More than ever now, we know what we are capable of. We just have to execute our strategies, be consistent and take our chances when they come.

Who knows, maybe by my next diary, we will have won the Test series.