We had proposed that the West Indies withdraw from Test cricket and major one-day international series for the next two to three years while the game in the region is overhauled after the debacle of the regional team in the just concluded World Cup tournament.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has chosen to ignore our advice and to go ahead with this month's tour of England for a series of Tests and one-day internationals. They have named Ramnaresh Sarwan to captain the team in place of Brian Lara, who has retired from the game.

In the circumstance, the WICB made the best choice. Sarwan has long been groomed for the job, and the other contender for the post, the Trinidadian Daren Ganga, is not certain of a place in the West Indies team.

But Sarwan, and whoever else is selected for the tour, must know they are on a short leash and that the board is ready to dump underperformers and recalcitrants.