| Third Test, St George’s, Grenada (day four): |
| England 204 & 120 Lees 31; Mayers 5-18 |
| West Indies 297& 28-0 Brathwaite 20* |
| West Indies win by 10 wickets |
| Scorecard |
England slumped to a chastening 10-wicket defeat early on the fourth day of the third Test to lose their series against West Indies 1-0.
After a dismal third day, England began 103-8, leading by just 10, and the hosts claimed the final two wickets within the first hour to have them all out for 120.
That set a target of just 28 and West Indies cantered to victory inside five overs to clinch the Richards-Botham trophy.
England have now lost four Test series’ in a row – five if the unfinished India series which Joe Root’s side trailed 2-1 is included – and are winless in nine matches.
The defeat, which comes on the back of a humiliating 4-0 Ashes loss, leaves England bottom of the World Test Championship table.
It looks set to reignite intense debate about the state of the men’s Test team – a side at one of its’ lowest points in recent memory.
England in crisis
Not since the 2013-14 Ashes capitulation, and the break-up of a team that followed, have England gone as many Tests without a win.
They have also won just one of 17 Tests going back to February last year – and not had such a poor run since the 1980s.
The result was all-but certain after England collapsed a day earlier in their second innings and the formalities were completed in less than 90 minutes of play.
Prior to this series England talked of a ‘red-ball reset’ and a wish to refocus on the longest format following the Ashes debacle.
There were flashes of promise in the first two Tests – a century for Zak Crawley, runs for Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes’ return to form and Saqib Mahmood’s encouraging debut. But their dismal display has their rebirth in tatters.
England next play a Test in June, at home against New Zealand, where they will hope to have appointed a new managing director and head coach, while captain Root’s position will also come into question.
More to follow
