After a cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand during which the performance of the England team was widely criticised, the test match squad hoped to regain some prestige for the much-maligned players when facing West Indies in Antigua. Although England failed to secure a morale boosting victory, the achievements of bowler James Anderson in becoming leading England wicket-taker did offer some welcome distraction for a team unable to dislodge the remaining West Indian batsmen during the final two sessions of the First Test.