England depart the Caribbean with a largely unruffled 3-0 win over West Indies tucked in the back pocket and while, like the Roman soldiers in Monty Python’s Life of Brian proudly holding up a spoon, they may have unearthed few discoveries, the tour has returned the side to winning ways after India and means plans for June’s Champions Trophy have crystallised a touch more.
Ripping up the blueprint before a global tournament has been an English tradition (only once, in the 2010 World Twenty20, did that not end in tears) but the captain, Eoin Morgan, and the coaching team are dead set on their current plan. It is why, rather than use this series against callow opposition to experiment, they opted to get runs and wickets into the first choice XI even when victory was secured.
Related: Alex Hales and Joe Root hit fine tons as England hammer West Indies
Related: Unexpected closeness of Test series helping create fireworks on and off field | Geoff Lemon
Continue reading...