by TONY COZIER

THE PERENNIAL INABILITY of West Indies teams at all levels to enforce strong positions has cost the "A" team two likely victories in the first three matches of their England tour.

But manager Tony Howard said he was generally pleased with the way things have gone.

He acknowledged that he was disappointed with the way the team was beaten by Worcestershire by nine runs in a 50-overs an innings match on Sunday, but said he was encouraged by the overall attitude of the team and by several individual performances.

The West Indies won their opening, three-day match against Durham by eight wickets and had to settle for a draw after dominating their second, also over three days, against Leicestershire. They start a three-day match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston today.

Howard said there were several pleasing individual performances already, but he was more concerned that the players learn and improve during the tour that comprises four first-class and four One-Day matches against the counties and a two-day match against the touring Pakistanis.

"Apart from the matches themselves, everyone has been at daily net practice," he said. "They are all keen to make the best use of the opportunity."

The manager was also keen that the team should uphold the image of West Indies cricket on the first "A" tour to England since 2002 when, according to Wisden, "their behaviour made more impact than their cricket".

"It's a point we've spoken about and emphasised," Howard said. "The players seem to appreciate their role. After the Durham match, the umpires came to me to compliment the team for its demeanour on the field."

The manager identified Runako Morton's 105 against Durham as "an innings of the highest class, in any company" and Lendl Simmons' even 100 against Leicestershire as confirming his potential and his progress.

He reported that Daren Powell had bowled with pace, swing and consistency that had previously eluded him and noted that Dwayne Smith has had an excellent all-round tour, especially with the ball.

All those who have played have had at least one outstanding performance, he said. Left-handed Jason Mohammed, the West Indies Under-19 representative, is the last of the 16 to be included, making his first appearance against Warwickshire tomorrow.

The manner of Sunday's loss to Worcestershire was a let-down, Howard admitted.

"Yes, we held the advantage both in the field and then batting but we let it slip," he said. "We discussed it at length after the match to determine where we went wrong and how to ensure we don't let it happen again."

Worcestershire were reduced to 70 for seven by the pace and swing of Powell (10-0-36-3) and the medium-pace of Darren Sammy (10-2-38-2) and Dwayne Smith ((10-5-26-1) but recovered to reach 213 all out in 49 overs.

The West Indies appeared headed for victory at 183 for four but the last six wickets collapsed for 21 runs.

In the previous, three-day match, they gained a first innings lead of 144 runs over Leicestershire who struggled to 51 for three before lunch in their second innings. But a fourth-wicket partnership of 162 between captain Darren Maddy and Tim New ensured a draw for the county team.

"I thought we relaxed when Worcestershire were 70 for seven," Howard said. "We spread the field and released the pressure instead of trying to finish them off.

"When you're in that position you should be going for the kill."

All-rounder Roger Sillence and Ray Price, the former Zimbabwe left-arm Test spinner, revived Worcestershire with a stand of 132.

Left-handed opener Devon Smith's 62 (97 balls, ten fours) anchored the "A" team's reply but, even though the innings got bogged down by the spin combination of Gareth Batty, the former England off-spinner, (10-3-16-3) and Price (10-2-30-2), victory was in sight as Dwayne Smith hit a typically explosive 44 off 48 balls, adding 63 with Ryan Hinds.

The collapse set in when the left-handed Hinds, who laboured for 30 off 70 balls, and Smith were dismissed in successive overs at 183.

Hinds had what Howard described as a "doubtful" lbw decision against Batty and Smith was spectacularly caught at long-off, one-handed by Batty off a shot from Price that was heading for his second six.