THE WEST Indies enter the fourth and final Test of the npower series against England at the Brit Oval today and, with the contest already decided in England's favour, with the home team boasting a 3-0 lead, the tourists must win or draw or suffer the embarrassment of a whitewash. Just over a year ago, the Windies were in the same position against Australia, a few months ago, they were in the same position against England. On both occasions they escaped - once through a record-breaking fourth innings batting performance, once through a world record performance by captain Brian Lara and listening to them they believe ­ at least some of them do ­ that they can rise to the occasion and do it yet again. Remembering that they were good enough to hit back and win the final Test against Australia despite losing the first by nine wickets, the second by 118 runs and the third by nine wickets, and that they got the better of a draw in the final Test against England after losing the first by 10 wickets, the second by seven wickets and the third by eight wickets, even though England won the first Test by 210 runs, the second by 256 runs and the third by seven wickets, victory or a draw for the West Indies is not impossible. Although Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, three of the stars in the escapes at the Antigua Recreation Ground, are present, however, a draw, much more a victory this time around, is highly improbable. KIND TO BATSMEN To win the match, the West Indies will have to dismiss England twice and looking at their bowling and their fielding, that does not seem possible ­ not on an Oval pitch that has a history of being kind to batsmen and a set of batsmen who, despite their lack of genuine class and quality, are mature, experienced and well organised. To draw the match, the West Indies will have to bat well, not in one innings but in two innings, and even forgetting the many low scores and the many embarrassments in the recent past, based on what has happened so far this series, based on the batting collapses that have seen five wickets tumbling for 31 runs in the second innings at Lord's as they dropped from 172 for three to 203 for eight, seven wickets toppling for 39 runs in the first innings at Edgbaston as they fell from 297 for three to 336, seven wickets tumbling for 50 runs - including a spell of five for 10 - in the second innings as they skidded from 172 for three 222, and eight toppling for 73 in the second innings on the fourth afternoon at Old Trafford as they dropped from 88 for one to 161 for nine, it is difficult to see how they can do that - even at The Oval. BUBBLING WITH CONFIDENCE On top of that, while England, bubbling with confidence after Lord's and Edgbaston and even more so after Old Trafford, seem capable of winning from any position against a team for which they have little respect, the West Indies, with so many inexperienced players - batsmen, bowlers and fielders ­ in their line-up, appear not only a beaten lot but also out of their depth. Although it is possible, with an attack of pacers Corey Collymore, Pedro Collins, Fidel Edwards and Bravo and left-arm wrist spinner Dave Moham-med, with an attack that is inconsistent as far as maintaining a good line and a good length is concerned, victory for the West Indies seems nothing but wishful thinking. In spite of the number of collapses, however, a draw is possible ­ even though it will only happen if Chris Gayle, Lara, Chanderpaul and Sarwan protect the inexperienced players from pacers Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Andrew Flintoff as well as left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, and if they, Sylvester Joseph, Dwayne Bravo and Carlton Baugh, can then lend valuable support, not once, but twice. "I am very proud of the young guys out there for us," said Lara after Monday's defeat at Old Trafford, and as the captain, it probably was a good thing to say. For the West Indies to prevent whitewash number eight in seven years, and for the West Indies to rob England of victory and the satisfaction of a golden summer, of a perfect seven from seven, not only will the team have to play in a manner that England will have to respect them, the youngsters will also have to make West Indian fans proud of them. TEAMS: ENGLAND (probable): Michael Vaughan (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Robert Key, Ian Bell, Andrew Flintoff, Geraint Jones, Ashley Giles, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, James Anderson. WEST INDIES (probable): Brian Lara (captain), Chris Gayle, Sylvester Joseph, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith, Carlton Baugh, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards SOURCE: JAMAICA-GLEANER.COM