Kiwis Blow England Away to Draw Series

New Zealand were able to seize their advantage on the final day by bowling England out to win by 199 runs and was able to draw the two match series 1-1.

Brendan McCullum finished the happier of the two captains

The momentum between the two teams has swung various times throughout the succinct and frenetic series. After a thrilling victory at Lord's in the First Test, England seemed to be in the ascendancy when Alastair Cook won the toss and inserted New Zealand on a green seaming wicket. 

The crowd celebrate Anderson's 400th Test wicket

James Anderson had the Kiwis reeling at 2-2 when he had both Martin Guptil and Kane Williamson out for a duck. In doing so, the Burnley-born bowler became the eighth fast bowler in Test Cricket to pass 400 wickets.

The Kiwis responded by pushing themselves off the ropes and counter attacked by rattling on at almost five runs an over. 

Tom Latham was the constant in the top order as he saw his first five partners depart before New Zealand had reached 15. England would have hoped to have bowled the Kiwis out for less than 200 but Latham (84) was able to build a 120-run partnership with debutant Luke Ronchi who romped to 88 off 70 balls.

Stuart Broad was able to build on his success from pitching the ball up in the First Test and was able to get 5/109 off 17 overs but England were left frustrated as the Kiwi tail wagged. The final three wickets put on 85 runs thanks to Mark Craig (41 not out) and New Zealand were bowled out for 350 in just 72.1 overs.

Alistair Cook became the leading English Test run scorer

England were able to take advantage of better batting conditions on Day Two and Cook and Adam Lyth made an opening stand of 177 runs. Cook was able to pass the all time English Test top scorer of his mentor and coach, Graham Gooch before being given out LBW for 75.

Adam Lyth scores his maiden Test century at his home ground of Headingley

Lyth was able to build on his promise from last year's county season by scoring a maiden century at his home ground of Headingley. He had got his team in the strong position of 215-1 and England must have been envisaging a total of 500+ until Lyth (107) was called for a suicidal run by Gary Ballance.

This started a collapse that saw England lose seven wickets for 52 runs towards the end of Day Two. A hard, new ball was in the hands of Tim Southee and he was able to extract swing and seam under the floodlights of a gloomy early evening in Leeds.

New Zealand got themselves back into the match with the second new ball

Southee finished with figures of 4/83 off 30 overs but Broad was able to bring the scores level on the morning of Day Three until he became the last man out when he was bowled for 46.

New Zealand began their second innings looking to set a formidable total but their progress was checked by England who had them at 23/2 and then 141/4 when Guptil was out for 70 off 72 balls.

Brendan McCullum and BJ Walting were able to take the game from England once again with a 121-run partnership. Skipper McCullum got a circumspect 55 and his side had the initiative at 368/7 when Watling was eventually out for 120. The Kiwis then put on another 86 runs until McCullum called his players in for a declaration which set England 455 runs to win.

The Yorkshire weather had curtailed the first day and hopes of a frenetic England run chase were curtailed when the rain returned half way through Day Four. The rain was replaced with wind on Day Five but it was New Zealand who blew away England's defences.

Kane Williamson took 3/

England's openers had made a steady platform but a combination of spin bowling on a turning fifth day pitch and poor shot selection saw the top order stumble to 62-4. The only English resistance came from Cook (56) and Jos Buttler (73) and it was the wicketkeeper who was the final wicket to fall with 19.1 overs left in the match.

England's fifth day capitulation is disappointing but nothing should be taken away from a New Zealand team who have thoroughly deserved something out of this series due to their enterprising and aggressive form of cricket in which they won their first Test Match in England for 16 years.

It is a shame we are denied a final match decider with the series being originally planned as a warm-up for the Ashes series to come. Hopefully a future New Zealand tour of England won't be during an Ashes summer and the contest would be at least three matches long.

Mark Wood has justified his selection and should play in the Ashes

Although short, the series was able to answer a few questions posed at the beginning of the series and also poses others.

Alistair Cook was named England's Man of the Series 

Cook continues to improve in form as he passed 9,000 career Test runs, Stokes has proved to be a potent threat, Lyth and Wood have seized their chances whilst Broad has begun to take note of Anderson and is now bowling fuller.

Ian Bell is slow to react as an edge from Tim Southee flies threw the slips

The causes for concern for incoming coach, Trevor Bayliss, will be the woeful form of Ballance and Ian Bell, the lack of control from Moeen Ali's bowling and the dropped catches in the slip cordon.

Ballance's awkward foot work has resembled French Cricket

Ballance's foot work has been none existent whilst Bell has been tentative and he was unable to avoid the trap set at leg slip in the second innings at Headingley. Both have been guilty of being unbalanced as they stood up to attempt catches in the slips and the lack of communication between the slip fielders was further highlighted by New Zealand's exemplary fielding.

Ian Bell disappointing form continues with a top score of 29

Both batsmen will now go away to their counties and they will need to find some form before the Ashes begins. Ballance usually bats in the middle order for Yorkshire and England may be best suited by promoting Bell to three, Root at four and Ballance at five.

Moeen Ali has been rested from the upcoming ODI series to work on his game

Ali has shown that he is not a front line spinner and Rashid deserves a chance in the side. He will be able to stake a claim for a Test place in the upcoming five match One Day International (ODI) tournament against the Kiwis.

Broad and Anderson are amongst five players axed from ODI squad

England's Director of Cricket, Andrew Strauss, had spoken of different sides for the Test and ODI teams and the squad for the ODI series with New Zealand only contains four players who took part in the Test series. The omission of Anderson, Broad and Bell all but confirms the end of their ODI career.

The selectors will be hoping for players out of nick to improve on the county circuit whilst a successful ODI series will see others looking to put their hand up against the Aussies who await in just over five weeks time. 

Stoking the Fires of Victory

England have a new hero to challenge the Aussies after Ben Stokes powered his side to an 124-run victory against New Zealand at the First Test at Lords.

The Durham all-rounder had made a memorable start to his Test career back in 2014 when he scored a maiden Test century against the Australians at Perth and his pivotal influence at Lord's will make the Aussies sit up and notice once again.

Much of the build-up for the first Test of the English summer had been consumed with Andrew Strauss refusing to select Kevin Pietersen and the continued search for a new coach.

Recent form made New Zealand the Test Series favorites

A lackluster tour to the West Indies, coupled with the fact that they were facing a New Zealand team ranked Number Three in the world and fresh from a World Cup final, made England the underdogs at the beginning of the two-Test Series.

Test debuts were awarded to opener, Adam Lyth, and bowler, Mark Wood, and the match started dubiously for England after they lost the toss on a green seaming wicket and were restricted to 30-4.

Root and Stokes 161-run partnership rescued England's first innings

Ben Stokes came together with Joe Root and they both counter-attacked with a 161-run partnership to rescue a first innings total.

Stokes finished eight runs short of a century and Root (98) also departed in the nervous 90s.

Buttler (67) and Moeen Ali (58) also put together a 100-run partnership before Buttler fell at the end of a hectic first day.

England were able to put on 35 runs at the start of Day Two before being bowled out for 389, which was at least 50 runs short of a challenging first innings total. Trent Boult was the pick of the Kiwi bowlers with 4/79.

England wicket keeper Jos Buttler takes a superb diving catch off Taylor 

The total certainly didn't look challenging when New Zealand were 148/0 but the two quick wickets of Martin Guptil (70) and Tom Latham (59) brought Ross Taylor to the wicket. Taylor seemed to be hampered by injury but ably assisted Kane Willamson to a 189-run partnership before getting out for 62 when he was superbly caught down the leg side by Buttler.

Williamson's knock of 132 comes to an end as he is caught at short leg

New Zealand captain, Brendon McCullum (42) nudged his team ahead of England and Williamson departed for 132. Wicket-keeper, BJ Watling, played with the tail for an unbeaten 61 as his team were bowled out for 523 and were 134 runs ahead.

Bell's miserable game totaled 30 runs from two knocks and two dropped catches

England's bowlers rued missed chances as Mark Wood was denied his first England wicket when he over stepped on the front foot and was penalised for a no-ball. Ian Bell dropped two catches at second slip off Stokes in what would be a forgetful game for the Warwickshire batsman.

The wickets were eventually shared around with three-apiece for Stuart Broad, Wood and Ali.

Debutant Adam Lyth is caught at slip after a flurry of boundaries

England's response didn't start well as Lyth's unlucky first innings dismissal was followed by him fishing outside off stump and edging to the slip cordon for 12. Ballance was unable to recreate his form in the Caribbean as he was out for a duck to go with his single-run score in the first innings. 

Bell was able to improve on his single run in the first innings but was dismissed on the third ball of the third day for 29.

Cook continued to play with more fluency and was ably assisted by Joe Root (84) for a 158-run partnership which brought England a slight lead of 98.

Certain players can take the game away from the opposition in a single session and can bring the fans flocking to the stands. Ben Stokes did just that on Sunday afternoon.

Captain Cook congratulates Stokes on his historic century

Cook watched on in admiration as Stokes took on the Kiwis, specifically Tim Southee, when he cut, pulled, hooked and drove the bowler around the ground. Stokes' willingness to take on the opposition endeared him to the Lords' faithful and he became the quickest player to reach a Test Match Hundred at the Home of Cricket, taking just 85 balls to reach three figures.

Stokes' aggressive stroke play has earned him many fans

England over the past 18 months have earned a reputation of being aloof from the public, with a lack of players that the casual viewer can identify with. The modern game craves entertainment value that an Andy Flintoff or a Kevin Pietersen could bring and it seems Stokes is the man to inherit the 'box-office' tag.

Cook return to form is complete as he scored his second century in two games

The momentum had firmly shifted in England's favour when Stokes was out for 101 and Cook brought up his 150 before Buttler was out for 14 with England having a lead of 292 going into the final day.

Thoughts of a declaration quickly disappeared as New Zealand wrapped up the English innings within the first hour of the day. Cook (162) and Ali (43) soon fell and England were bowled out for 478 to set the Kiwis 345 runs to win with 77 overs left in the day.

Lower ticket prices brought 20,000 spectators into Lord's for the final day

England's quest to win started in the best possible way as James Anderson and Broad got the openers out for ducks to leave the Kiwis 0-2. Taylor (12) soon departed to leave New Zealand 12-3.

Stokes was unlucky to be wicketless in the first innings but produced a spell which turned the game in England's favour once again. He had Williamson caught at slip for 27 and then produced a beautiful delivery which nipped back, cramped McCullum for room and bowled the Kiwi skipper for a golden duck.

Stokes was on a hat-trick but the 20,000 fans packed in to Lords (following a cut in ticket prices) couldn't will their hero to get another wicket from the next ball.

Wood impressed on debut and opened the door to the Kiwi tail

New Zealand seemed to be digging in for the draw with Watling (59) and Corey Anderson sharing an 107-run partnership but Cook remained patient and Wood was able to nip one away from Watling who couldn't avoid gloving a ball which reared towards his helmet.

Cook's bowling changes worked again when Root got Anderson out LBW for 67. England could now sense victory and Stokes bowled Mark Craig for 4.

Ali bowled the next ball from the other end and instantly got the wicket of Southee (20) after he was caught and bowled by the spinner.

Anderson still awaits his 400th Test Wicket

The match entered its final hour with England needing one last wicket and Cook continued to rotate his bowlers. Anderson was unable to claim his 400 Test Wicket when the ball flew through a vacant wide slip position. Cook looked to plug the gap by moving Stokes from point but the ball then flew in the air where Stokes had been the ball before.

Ali's team mates rush to celebrate his catch on the boundary

New Zealand had 58 balls remaining to survive when Broad looked to cut the angle by going around the wicket to Boult who steered the ball over the slips and down to third man. His shot got a top edge and Ali came round to take a fantastic catch by the boundary to seal the win.

Cook must be relieved to finally put the Kevin Pietersen saga to bed

The character England have shown in this game has been refreshing and Stokes attitude is much needed in a team that has too often avoided taking the initiative in the past 18 months.

New Zealand have often had the advantage in this match but have been overcome by a battling England side. The two teams, although with contrasting players, are quite evenly matched and McCullum will have to try and rally his team before the final match of the series begins on Friday at Headingley.

The England team celebrate a well-earned victory

England have won a well-earned victory but there are still improvements to be made including missed catches and Bell's lack of form.

Australian Trevor Bayliss is set to become the next England coach

The day also included the news that Trevor Bayliss is the preferred candidate to become England head coach. The coaching partnership of Bayliss and current caretaker, Paul Fairbrace, took Sri Lanka to the World Cup final and it remains to be seen whether they can bring further success to the England team.

'Massive Trust Issue' Too Big To Overcome

From underneath his brown helmet at the non-striker's end, Kevin Pietersen watched forlornly as his Surrey team-mate, Matt Dunn, fended off a bouncer and was caught at short leg, bringing to an end Surrey's quite extraordinary first innings at the Kia Oval.

Pietersen turned around and unstrapped his gloves having been left stranded on 355 not out, two runs short of Surrey's county record. It was a knock which perfectly encapsulated Pietersen's memorable and contentious time in English cricket.

Leicestershire, desperately searching for their first county championship win in two and a half years, had Surrey at 51-2 when Pietersen strode to the wicket to join Sri Lankan stalwart Kumar Sangakkara. The former Sri Lankan captain, currently ranked the world's top Test Match Batsmen by the ICC, scored 36 (second top scorer) and became the first of Pietersen's partners to fall in the innings.

Kevin O'Brien looks on as Pietersen cuts through the off side

Pietersen - known simply as 'KP' by supporters and detractors alike - cut, swept and bludgeoned his way to a remarkable unbeaten 355 off 396 balls. Fortune favoured the brave KP when he was dropped four times as he belligerently clattered Leicestershire for 291 runs on Day Two of Second Division clash at the Oval. KP's phenomenal swash buckling amassed a personal total that many teams would have envied.

Pietersen came out swinging but his highest ever total proved futile

Monday May 11 2015 will go down as KP day as the South African-born batsmen unleashed his frustrations and aspirations on the hapless Leicestershire bowlers.

KP thought his England career had ended when he was cut from the team following England's disastrous 2013/2014 Ashes tour but he was seemingly thrown a life line by incoming England Cricket Board (ECB) Chairman, Colin Graves.

Colin Graves' comments saw Pietersen work hard to earn a recall

Graves, when asked about the 'KP Situation' in March, said: "If he wants to play for England then he has to play for a county. That is his decision. If he does that and then comes out and scores a lot of runs they can’t ignore him."

KP was set a task and he quickly looked to accomplish it. He postponed his plans to appear for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the T20 Indian Premier League and searched for a county team. 

Ironically, Leicestershire put their hand up but KP returned to his previous Surrey side and looked to ply his trade. A knock of 170 in a pre-season game against Oxford MCCU was followed by more modest scores which saw him amass 112 runs in the next four innings.

However, the stage was soon set for Showman KP to stake his claim for an England call-up at the very ground where he got his first England century.

Paul Downton, the man who swung the axe on Pietersen, had recently been replaced by Andrew Strauss as Director of Cricket and Strauss signaled the change by sacking team coach, Peter Moores. Reports that Strauss would be making an announcement to the media on Tuesday provided the impetus for KP to amass the sixth biggest innings ever in County Championship history.

 

Peter Moores was given his marching orders on Saturday

"What more can I do? I'm ready to play for England" KP declared as he came off the field on Monday at 326 not out and he was duly summoned to meet Strauss for a late night meeting where KP would learn his fate.

'You might be ready to play for England, but we aren't' was the message Strauss gave KP. Pietersen returned to the crease at the Oval the next morning and was left stranded once again.

His innings showed inspired batting, powered by guile, flamboyancy, bravado and sheer self-belief. These aspects of his personality have forever divided those around him.

Strauss has suffered many headaches from managing Pietersen

KP's past indiscretions have, according to Strauss, created a "massive trust issue" which now prevents Pietersen from playing for his adopted country once more.

So how can KP, arguably the world's greatest batsmen of his generation, not get a place in the England side? The answer doesn't lie in a Division Two County Championship match but in the divisions Pietersen has created for himself time and again.

Pietersen enters the world stage during the Ashes 2005 series

KP already had a divisive reputation when he came into the England set-up. Having left his country of birth over selection issues, Pietersen joined Nottinghamshire and his flamboyant technique soon led to an England One Day International (ODI) call-up. He replied to his South African detractors in style by scoring his maiden ODI century in the cauldron of Bloemfontein.

A Test call up beckoned for KP and he stamped his authority on the seminal 2005 Ashes which culminated in his match-saving innings of 158 that ensured England had won back the coveted urn for the first time in 16 years.

Pietersen and Strauss enjoying much happier times together

KP soon became an integral part of an England side which became the Number One Test ranked team in the world. His batting could change the course of a game within a session and he raced to 6,000 Test runs within six years.

He was handed the England captaincy but his stubborness soon clashed with team coach, Peter Moores, later described by KP as a "woodpecker". Their acrimonious break-up led to Strauss being given a long-awaited permanent captaincy and he was joined at the helm by coach Andy Flower.

Pietersen's 2014 autobiography gave the Zimbabwe-born coach the unfortunate sobriquet "Flower the Dour" and KP would soon hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. A team of a mixture of personalities needs to work together and support one another and it was clear to see that the England dressing room was clearly divided in 2012.

Pietersen's private messages with a South African player were soon revealed

Modern day technology highlighted these divisions very publicly as a spoof Twitter account criticising KP was followed by his England team-mates. KP then shared instant messages with a South African player during the Test series between the two sides which bantered about Strauss being an "idiot". 

Pietersen was subsequently dropped and 'reintegrated' back into the England team in India where KP scored 186. The double Ashes series of 2013 proved to be KP's last in an England shirt as his temperament was hampered by a long term knee injury. KP was one of many to fall (by choice or not) in that Ashes whitewash series of 2013/2014 and Pietersen was seemingly in the wilderness.

Pietersen (right) enjoyed himself in Australia's Big Bash

KP is a box office player and he brought the punters in to see him play in T20 domestic series of the IPL and Australia's Big Bash. Pietersen was enjoying himself, particularly in Australia and this contrasted with the England team's disastrous second term under Peter Moores. 

A mixed 2014 summer saw England lose to Sri Lanka and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against India. England then went into one day mode in preparation for their disastrous Cricket World Cup and didn't play a Test series for over six months.

Surrey coach, Alec Stewart, was in the running for Director of Cricket

The drawn series in the Caribbean brought the end of Moores and the start of a new era. The appointment of Strauss as Director of Cricket over Surrey coach, Alec Stewart signified that KP's wait for an England call up would continue.

Since retiring from the England captaincy, Strauss has worked as a TV commentator and was covering the Bicentennial  MCC vs. Rest of the World match when he thought he was off mic and let slip a disparaging comment about Pietersen.

Pietersen's appearance for the MCC brought comments from Strauss

Strauss subsequently apologised and tried unsuccesfully to contact KP. He left Pietersen an answerphone message after KP missed the call. KP says in his autobiography that he was "disappointed" to miss the call and he had "never heard from him [Strauss] again."

That was until Monday. Strauss' decision has divided many and the reaction has waivered more towards disagreement but at least Strauss has made the decision. 

Strauss described his new role as "non-tracksuit"

Strauss, when explaining the decision, said that recalling KP wouldn't be in the best short-term interests for England. I disagree by saying an England recall wouldn't have been in the best long-term interests of the England team.

A revitalised Pietersen might help England reclaim the Ashes this summer but Trott's recent reintroduction to the team shows that England shouldn't hark back to past glories.

It is 10 years since that titanic Ashes battle in the golden summer of 2005 and Ian Bell is the only veteran from that series still playing. His place is also under threat if he underwhelms this summer.

Next England captain? The future looks brighter for Joe Root

Strauss also announced today that Joe Root will rightly be groomed as a future England captain by being awarded the vice-captaincy. Eoin Morgan will continue as ODI captain and hopefully James Taylor will also be made vice captain of the ODI team. It was refreshing to hear Strauss say that the Test and ODI squads should be separate, a fact that was plain to see with Ballance's failure at the World Cup.

Strauss offered somewhat of an olive branch to KP as he gave Pietersen the opportunity to advise him on the future of English cricket but KP has never been one to shine behind the camera and he refused.

Although Strauss has denied KP has been banned from the team, it's hard to see the soon-to-be 35 year old Pietersen returning to the England line-up. England's new Director of Cricket has now sent a clear message that no player is bigger than the team that we be built on honesty and integrity.

Will Cook and Gillespie be meeting more frequently?

The next item on Strauss' agenda will be to appoint the team coach and Jason Gillespie will be at the top of the list. The gritty Australian seamer, another veteran from the 2005 Ashes series, has led Yorkshire to the County Champions hip and he recently gave the Daily Telegraph an insight into his method of coaching:

"Firstly, identify the type of cricket you want to play, then the personnel. All cricket is about is how you can wrestle the initiative and put pressure on the opposition."

England have, of late, become timid and scared of their own shadow and Strauss will relish calling upon Gillespie's no-nonsense style that is similar to Darren Lehman. Lehman has transformed the Australian national side after taking over in 2013 when the team was in disarray.

KP's England future doesn't look as rosy. He will now take the field against Leicestershire and contemplate whether he will play again on an English cricket ground. IPL knockout stages now beckon for KP and any England failures this summer will leave many calling for his return.

Pietersen walks off the Oval and possibly away from English cricket

Yet there can be no doubt that, what ever KP does next, the headlines will follow.

Missed Opportunities - England Spring 2015 Test Tour to West Indies

The West Indies five wicket victory over England to square the series 1-1 underlined the missed opportunities England had at their disposal in this spring time whistle-stop tour of the Caribbean.

After a disastrous early exit from the Cricket World Cup earlier this year, England began the first of 15 Test matches over the next 12 months against a West Indies team looking to regain past glories of the once formidable 'Windies' team of the 1980s and early 1990s.

England's first Test away tour since the 2013/2014 Ashes whitewash would soon be followed by home matches against New Zealand and Australia and then a winter tour to South Africa. Such vital games against the top two Test playing sides later in the year should have seen the England set-up looking to take risks in the three match series lasting just over three weeks towards the end of April.

The initial selection indicated that England may do just that with Test call-ups given to 2014 County Championship winning Yorkshire team-mates. Left hand opening batsmen, Adam Lyth and leg spinner Adil Rashid were joined by wicket keeping cover, Johnny Bairstow, and quick bowler, Liam Plunkett.

Additional bowling options were offered with Durham's Mark Wood and Warwickshire batsman, Jonathan Trott, made the squad for the first time since that forgettable Ashes series Down Under. Trott had withdrawn from that series due to a stress related illness and he was particularly vulnerable to the short ball bowled with such ferocity by Australia's Mitchell Johnson.

Jonathan Trott's selection wasn't justified as he got four ducks from six innings in the Caribbean

Trott's previous successes were found at him coming in at Number Three but this position had eagerly been taken by Gary Ballance during Trott's absence last summer. 

Sam Robson, England's opening batsman from last summer, was left out of the squad and it would have been an opportunity to have a look at Lyth. England, however, missed a trick and partnered Alastair Cook with a desperately out of form Trott who disappointed in the warm-up games.

Last summer's spin revelation, Moeen Ali, had become injured towards the end of the World Cup and James Tredwell was picked as the front line spinner for the First Test in a series where dry and dusty pitches would assist spin.

England's team for the First Test in Antigua were:

Cook (c), Trott, Ballance, Bell, Root, Stokes, Buttler (wk), Jordan, Broad, Tredwell, Anderson.

James Anderson became England's leading wicket taker with 384 wickets

The headlines of the First Test were filled with James Anderson becoming England's leading wicket taker but Anderson couldn't prevent West Indies drawing the First Test on a docile pitch.

Trott's two innings amounted to 18 balls across 28 minutes for four runs which included a three ball duck in the first innings. England were tottering at 34-3 in the first innings until a 177 fourth wicket partnership between Joe Root (83) and Ian Bell (143) brought the team respectability and they were eventually bowled out for 399 following Ben Stokes 79 and a last wicket stand of 38 between Anderson (20) and Chris Jordan (21 not out).

England got a first innings lead of 104 after Jermaine Blackwood scored 112 not out and Tredwell got 4/47 from 26 overs, 12 of which were maidens. England's top order misfired once again, with Root coming to the wicket at 52-3 and his 114 run partnership with Ballance set up a total of 438 for West Indies to win. Ballance anchored the innings of 333-7 declared with the Yorkshireman scoring 122 whilst Root and Buttler (not out) both got 59.

West Indies second innings brought sporadic wickets but the English bowling attack couldn't bring the win as Jason Holder scored an unbeaten 103 to draw the game.

James Tredwell was unfortunate to only play one Test match in the series

England once again had the opportunity to strengthen their top order but the only change made was bizzarely replacing Tredwell with a fit-again Ali. 

Anderson made the headlines once again when his inspired performance on the morning of Day Five turned the game on it's head and brought England a nine wicket victory.

The Grenada wicket was spruced up by constant rains and Cook didn't hesitate in putting the West Indies in to bat after winning the toss. England's bowlers underwhelmed though and having the West Indies at 129-5, they allowed them to reach 299, at least 50 runs too many in helpful conditions.

Stuart Broad was the pick of the bowlers with 4/61 and Marlon Samuels fought against Stokes' sledging to make 103. The Samuels/Stokes confrontation would become an interesting and (sometimes humorous) subplot.

England batted on better conditions in their first innings and an improved top order brought an opening partnership of 125. The lack of urgency underlined how desperately out of form the two openers were with Cook taking 211 balls across 257 minutes to make his 76. Trott scratched around for 209 minutes using 147 balls to make his 59. 

Joe Root's 182 not out brought much needed impetuous into England's innings

Root brought some much needed impetuous to the innings with a knock that beautifully read the situation of the game and gave an insight into Root's future as a possible captain. His 182 not out was abley assisted by Ballance (77) but a spluttering tail left Root stranded 18 short of a double century and England all out for 464 with a lead of 165.

Root had been eyeing an English lead of over 200 when Anderson unassumingly jogged back to the crease without running his bat in and the tall Gabriel plucked a high ball thrown in from the boundary and whipped the bails off to leave Root frustrated.

Anderson was involved in taking 7 wickets in the West Indian second innings

Anderson soon made up for his dozy running between the wickets by being part of six of the eight wickets to fall in the final morning. Kevin Braithwaite (116) must have thought another draw was in the offing until he was caught off Anderson's bowling. His wicket was the first of eight to fall for 83 runs with Anderson taking 3 wickets, two catches and a stunning pick-up-and-throw run out. Anderson ended with 4/43 and Ali's 3/51 somewhat masked an undercooked bowling performance as he returned from injury.

West Indies were skittled out for 307 and set England 142 runs to win. Trott couldn't build on his first innings improvement and was out again for a three-ball duck. Cook (59 not out) was assisted by Ballance (81 not out) to bring a 9 wicket victory.

Cook celebrates England's first away Test victory since 2012

An unchanged England arrived at Barbados for the Third and final Test of the series where they were expecting to win the series but an improving West Indies team showed that they shouldn't be underestimated.  

England won the toss and batted. The innings began in ominous fashion with Trott out for his fourth a final duck of the series. The team were teetering at 91-4 after Root (33) fell for an uncharacteristically low score. Cook was undeterred and batted sensibly to earn his first century in almost two years. He quickly departed for 105 but had been assisted by Ali (58) before Cook ran him out and Stokes (22) contributed to England's 257 all out.

West Indies opening batsmen were left reeling when they were 37-4 following a great opening spell from Anderson. The Burnley quick ripped through the batting line-up to take 6-42 off 12.4 overs to leave West Indies 189 all out despite Jermaine Blackwood's 85.

With a lead off 68, England were looking to push on to make a substantial lead but they were restricted by the West Indian bowlers with Taylor, Holder and Permaul taking three wickets a piece. 

England started Day Three at 39-5 with a lead of 107 and were looking to set a target of at least 200/250 runs for West Indies to chase but Permaul struck early with the wickets of Ballance (23) and Stokes (32). Jordan was unfortunate to lose a review when Hawk Eye showed the ball was shaving the top of the bails and the on-field decision of out was upheld. 

Broad's horrendous batting since being hit in the face last summer continued as he stayed back to a short ball and saw his off stump rooted. Jordan has quickly replaced Broad as the team all-rounder and the Nottinghamshire bowler looks a viable candidate for Number 11. Jos Buttler went into one-day mode and took the lead up to 191 before he was left stranded on 35 not out.

It seemed that the target of 192 was a little short of a challenging total but England had hopes of victory when they reduced West Indies to 80-4. Darren Bravo (82) and Jermaine Blackwood (47 not out) took the West Indies to victory to clinch a well earned series draw with a five wicket victory. 

Jos Buttler is left to rue the missed stumping of Blackwood

England missed another opportunity when Buttler failed to stump a charging Blackwood that would have seen the West Indies struggling at 88-5. Blackwood and Bravo then knuckled down to reach their target after 62.4 overs towards the end of Day Three of the five-day Test match.

Captain Cook reflected on the tour by saying that "for the majority of the series we did a lot of good stuff but when the pressure came on we didn't play very well." How you respond to pressure moments is what defines teams - look at Hussain in the Sri Lankan gloom in 2000, Vaughan's men at Edgbaston in 2005 and Cook's team in India in 2012.

Certain players haven't stepped up to the mark in this tour and incoming ECB Chief Colin Graves will have to consider removing some veterans and taking some risks.

Root is wise for his years but it would be too early to give him the captaincy yet and Cook has shown some good captaincy this series, apart from bowling an expensive Ali, under bowling Stokes and fielding his best fielder (Jordan) in the covers when bowling the seamers. Cook's catching is also not what it used to be.

Trott should never have been selected for this tour and his dismal average of 11.3 from six innings highlighted his vulnerability to the short ball that will leave Johnson and co licking their lips if Trott takes guard in the First Ashes Test in July. Lyth should have been given a go during this tour, as should Rashid have. There could have been an argument to bowl both Rashid and Tredwell in the final Test with Ali bowling too many short balls and Root often out performed him.

It was encouraging to see Broad bowl fuller and he got rewarded with 10 wickets in the series at an average of 32 but there was no doubt who England's best bowler was with Anderson taking 17 wickets for an average of 18. His fielding on the final day of the Second Test probably just sneaked him past Root as England's Man of the Series.

England's Man of the Series, James Anderson, couldn't prevent a series draw

The series left more questions than answers. England coach, Peter Moores, said that "there's a ruthlessness we need to develop, commitment from the lads has been total but we've got to learn some tough lessons."

Ruthlessness will have to be shown in team selection. Despite his 143 in Antigua, Bell under performed in a tour where he batted one place too high. His experience will be needed during this summer's Ashes but he should be dropped if he doesn't perform.

James Taylor was England's player of the World Cup and he has been rewarded with the temporary One Day captaincy for Friday's match against Ireland due to regular skipper, Eoin Morgan, playing in the IPL. I am glad that Taylor will be given this opportunity and he would be an asset to England's Test middle order.

Lyth should be given a run in the team after earning a chance from last year's domestic season and, even though Moeen Ali is a canny One Day bowler, he isn't a front-line Test spinner and either Tredwell or Rashid should be given a chance. Jos Buttler is a batsman/keeper and, apart from in the last Test, has usually had a quiet time behind the stumps. Stokes was under bowled by Cook whilst Jordan impressed with his line and reflex catching.

Broad had an improved series but his place could be under threat if he has a lackluster summer. My recommendation for the team to play New Zealand would be:

Cook (c), Lyth, Ballance, Root, Bell, Buttler, Stokes, Jordan, Tredwell/Rashid, Anderson, Broad.

However it cannot be denied that, with the end of the Caribbean Tour, England's Year of Test Cricket hasn't got off to the best of starts.