Close of play

That England should have a 3–0 lead in the present Test cricket series against West Indies is something that, only a few years ago, would have exceeded the most insane expectations of its supporters. In great measure the success is down to the discovery of excellent talent — Flintoff, Strauss and Key notably — and to the maturing of some older ones, such as Thorpe and Giles. But a significant part of England’s success has been the dismal and gutless way in which our once formidable opponents have now started to play the game of which they were — recently — not only the premier exponents, but also the leading entertainers. As Mr Geoffrey Boycott pointed out on the afternoon of West Indies’ terrible defeat this week, if they were not able to beat England from that position — a handsome first innings lead on a notoriously deteriorating wicket — then it was hard to see when they could ever do so.