It’s a curious fact that the winning team in each of the recent five One Day Internationals (ODI) between hosts West Indies and New Zealand had first won the toss and chosen to bowl first.

So, New Zealand, having called correctly at the toss on three occasions, ended up winning the series 3-2.

For the most part it seemed to us the pitches seemed more bowler-friendly at the start of games — an impression which clearly influenced decisions to bowl first.

Our foremost concern is that on every occasion when the West Indies lost — having batted first — they were bowled out well short of their 50 overs, scoring 138 in the second game and 140 in the third. In the fourth, a nail-biter which saw the visitors scrambling home by one wicket, the West Indies reached 188 in 44 overs and four balls.

By contrast, the New Zealanders, even in losing, worked hard as a team to bat through the entirety of their allotted overs. It meant that in both the first and last ODIs which the visitors lost they set up challenging scores — 267 in the opening game in Guyana, and 269-8 in the last fixture in Barbados.

Although the West Indies had to go down to the line to win that last game by two wickets, they can take heart from chasing well.

But there is no solace to be gained from the clear evidence that West Indian batsmen failed to properly assess conditions and execute well in order to give themselves a fighting chance in those games they lost.

With qualifiers now inevitable, if the Caribbean men are to gain a place at the 2027 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s (50 overs) Cricket World Cup, West Indies Head Coach Mr Daren Sammy and his staff have work ahead of them.

A big plus — unexpected for many of us — was the outstanding performance of the 19-year-old Jamaican left-arm wrist spinner Mr Vitel Lawes.

A star at the ICC Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, Mr Lawes, introduced to senior men’s top-level cricket for the very first time, played all five games, taking eight wickets.

Crucially, he impressed with good control and mystery — batsmen struggling to read his deliveries through the air and off the pitch.

We will watch Mr Lawes’ further development with great interest.

Starting Saturday, the Caribbean home cricket schedule continues with the first of a two-Test series between West Indies and Pakistan in Trinidad.

Readers may recall that last month, as FIFA World Cup fever took a firm grip, the West Indies Test team, led by Mr Roston Chase, gained a 1-0 Test series win over Sri Lanka in Antigua. The home side, driven by outstanding fast bowling and a world record sixth-wicket partnership of 401 runs between Mr Amir Jangoo (233) and Mr Chase (194), gained a massive innings victory in the first Test before earning a draw in the second — a high-scoring affair.

After a worryingly lengthy lean spell, the Sammy/Chase partnership at the helm of the Test team was earning success.

Messrs Sammy and Chase, the West Indies team, and back-room staff, as well as the regional cricket fraternity will be hoping for more of the same against Pakistan.