Four lettered reaction for the three-digit scores: Y-A-W-N

Local boy Ridley Jacobs’ run chase is cause for excitement, a record is being set as both keepers become centurions, but they have the distinct air of folks who reckon they have nowhere else more happening to be at the moment.

As for the dying moments of this match, something’s got to be drastically wrong when batsmen bat and bat, and then come on to bowl out the daily quota of overs, each and every one of them — barring, of course, keeper Ratra, though even that could yet transpire. For the records, Windies had reached 591 for six at tea.

So even as Chanderpaul reaches his third century of the series — the fifth of his career, and fourth against India — on this lovely day as a benign sun plays hide and seek with swiftly floating clouds, catching the white of their flannels, it’s time to rewind to some memorable images. That’s where the trajectory of this match is best captured.

After King Carl was back in the dressing room yesterday with his third century of the series, Chanderpaul and Jacobs followed suit. After Jacobs departed, giving Rahul Dravid his first wicket in Test cricket — even Mervy Dillon was having his share of fun with the willow.

How very exciting! Will the West Indies bat through this the last day of the fourth Test, or will India’s beleaguered openers get another shot in the middle? Should their scorecards be placed side by side for telling comparison? Do we even care?

A match official points out that sooner or later the ICC will have to address this. Recent years have shown that spectators are not tiring of Test cricket, with its five days of changing fortunes, its delicate battles of wit between man and opponent as too between man and the elements — they stray away to the One-day variant on account of days like these, when a keen contest deteriorates into inevitable draw, when players infect the air with resignation as they go through the formalities of seeing out the day.

Calling off play is not the only option a One-day match could perhaps be agreed upon.

In these islands, the host city blocks live telecast of the matches in order to attract spectators to the venue.

They filed in on the first day, who can blame them from refusing to pay 75 East Caribbean dollars (US $ 29) for this day’s play which commenced with Saurav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar opening the bowling for India?

No one would stay away from this picturesque venue where Viv Richards and Andy Roberts wend their way through the folks dancing in the aisles, where food and the local brew are available aplently, if only the groundsmen would have been more cooperative.