Andrew Strauss, the England captain, will attempt to restore some pride to his country's cricket team over the next five days when they take on the West Indies in the second Test in Antigua. Their humiliating collapse to be bowled out for 51 in the second innings of the first Test last weekend to lose by an innings and 23 runs left England cricket in familiar territory - a state of disarray. The West Indies have not won successive Tests in a series since 1999, but will be confident of ending the decade-long wait. Strauss, in his first outing as captain after replacing Kevin Pietersen, described the visitors' dressing room after the first Test as "pretty disconsolate" - not the words England want their captain to be saying after just one match in a series, especially in a year in which the Ashes are at stake when Australia travel to the northern hemisphere. England are expected to make at least one change, with Owais Shah replacing Ian Bell at No 3. The seamer James Anderson may also be recalled. John Buchanan, the former Australia coach, yesterday ruled out a move to replace Andy Flower - who is England's caretaker coach following Peter Moores's dismissal. Buchanan coaches the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. Moores was put in charge of the English county side Lancashire earlier this week.
lthornhill@thenational.ae
