Pollock was not concerned with West Indies

"My major concern is that if a wicket has preparation moisture, it's what the South African seamers can do to us as opposed to what we can do to them.

"South Africa has got the type of seam attack that can set up a Test from the first innings."

These were most revealing reasons.

The decision to field first by Hooper has been blamed by many for the defeat.

On a pitch that looked dry and likely to give bowlers great assistance and deteriorate - which it did - batting first would have been an advantage.

Bowling last on the wearing pitch with two spinners would have been beneficial.

However, at the end of the game Hooper did not feel that, even with hindsight, his choice was an error.

He blamed the failure on the batsmen in the first innings conceding a 107-run lead.

Ramnarine could have benefitted from bowling last

But why was such a lead given?

In the Windies' first innings, the South African bowling was accurate and versatile despite the forced omission of Allan Donald through injury.

It was not devastating; yet the West Indies' batting ranged from abject to amateurish with a few exceptions.

The most vivid difference though, and perhaps the greatest effect on the sides, has been the fielding.

The South Africans have been dazzling in the field. This put almost unbearable constraints on the West Indies batsmen.

Neil McKenzie's catch to dismiss Brian Lara in the first innings was stupendous and the best example of how this can change the dynamics of the game

Overall, the home team's catching has been found wanting throughout the series and so it was in this match when they could least afford it.

At the times they most needed to raise their game, the hallmark of true champions, the West Indians couldn't and paid the ultimate price.

Justin Kemp is helped off the field

The team is generally acknowledged to be in a rebuilding phase and looked it here.

It has even been described as weak in the international context.

The West Indies have to face the fact that it was beaten by a superior team who deserve all the credit it will receive for this victory.

Now 2-0 up with one match to play, the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy is South Africa bound .

In addition, Shaun Pollock will be congratulated on captaining the seventh team to have won a series in the Caribbean.

They are just the second in 28 years and the first team since 1973 to have won a series with a match to play.

Hopefully, this loss at home will finally dispel any vestiges of belief that things were alright with West Indies cricket and the problems of the team abroad were a totally separate issue.

The talent level between the teams may be debatable. What cannot be disputed is the ability of one team to impart and withstand pressure at the highest level of the game.

That was no more starkly shown than in this fourth Test.