Tony Becca, Contributor

THE WORLD Under-19 cricket tournament enters its quarter-finals stage today and unfortunately for West Indians, the West Indies are out of it.

Instead of making it to the Super League stage of the contest, the West Indies, after losing to South Africa and India, after defeating, or rather taking advantage of lowly Papua New Guinea, finished third in their group.

With only two teams going forward, they have been relegated to the group for losers where they will contest the consolation prize.

In match number one, the West Indies lost to South Africa, who eased to the victory target of 223 with three wickets in hand and with 6.1 overs to spare. In match number two, the West Indies, after posting 319, routed PNG for 143 in 37.1 overs.

And then, in a must-win encounter, the West Indies, after winning the toss and sending India to bat, lost by 50 runs when they were dismissed for 215 with 2.1 overs still to be bowled.

No surprise

Based on their previous six performances in the tournament when they finished in the runners-up spot on only one occasion, in the semi-finals once, in the quarter-finals once, and failed to make it out of the first round three times, the performance by the West Indies this time around, and despite all the talk, was not a surprise.

It is always difficult to assess the strength of the teams in an age-group tournament. That is so for the simple reason that there are usually so many changes in the teams and, most times, in fact, all the time, those who make pre-dictions are only guessing.

Practice matches

There was, however, one difference this time around. There were a few practice matches for the teams. These matches were just prior to the start of the competition.

They were between teams in the competition. They could have provided an example of the relative strengths of the teams and based on the performance of the West Indies, against two traditionally strong teams at that, it was, on that basis, a surprise that the West Indies did not make it out of the first round.

The West Indies played two practice matches, one against Sri Lanka and one against Australia, and although, and obviously so because of their previous performances, they were ranked at number seven, after defeating Sri Lanka by four wickets and Australia by five wickets, after picking off two teams ranked above them, a great deal was expected of them.

In other words, even if they did not defeat favourites India, they were expected to put away South Africa who were ranked at number 10.

Instead of doing so, however, instead of defeating South Africa and pushing them towards the door, the West Indies lost to South Africa, and with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - with a perfect three from three, with South Africa, Australia, England and New Zealand - with two from three, moving on, the West Indies are the only team from a Test-playing country which fell by the way side.

Although, based on their respective record at the tournament, it is not surprising that Bangladesh, also with a perfect three from three, are in and the West Indies are out, it must be and it should be hurting the West Indies, not only that they are out and Bangladesh are in, not only that one like Adrian Barath, a star among big men in West Indies domestic cricket, did not perform, but also, and not for the first time, that they are bracketed with teams like Ireland, PNG, Bermuda, Namibia, Nepal and Malaysia.