Greig felt that the interviewer was concentrating too much on the West Indies fast bowling attack and not discussing England's strengths.
England struggled against the batting of Gordon Greenidge and Viv Richards and the pace bowling of Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Vanburn Holder and Wayne Daniel.
During the 1975–1976 season, the West Indies team was thrashed 5–1 in Australia, unable to cope with the home side's fast arm bowlers like Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee.
In response, captain Clive Lloyd completely transformed the West Indies team with a focus on fast bowling.
However, the victory was a result of India choosing to withdraw their final batsmen in response to what they described as barbaric, reckless, and dangerous West Indies' bowling.
The England cricket team had enjoyed a long spell of success in the early 1970s with consecutive victories in The Ashes and a strong record against other international opponents.
However, defeats in 1975 to Australia in the Cricket World Cup and in The Ashes had exposed the team as possibly ageing and lacking top-class fast bowlers.
After the traditional opening fixture against Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk's XI, and warm-up matches against county sides, the 1st Test was played at Trent Bridge at the beginning of June.
England made a solid reply, scoring 332, including 106 for David Steele and 82 for Bob Woolmer, and Wayne Daniel taking 4-53.
The West Indian first innings was put into perspective as Holding (5-17), Roberts (3-22), and Daniel (2-13) ripped through the England batting, dismissing them for 71 in 32.5 overs.
Richards (66) and Lawrence Rowe (50) both added half-centuries, and West Indies were bowled out for 450 early on the second day, Snow taking 4-77 and Bob Willis 3-71.
England were soon in trouble at 80–4, but captain Tony Greig and wicket-keeper Alan Knott added 152 for the sixth wicket, each making 116 in a sixth-wicket stand of 152.
England had lost the series, but could recover some pride by winning the 5th Test played on a very dry pitch at the Oval in mid-August.
Instead, Greenidge (86*) and Fredericks (85*) scored quick runs, adding 182 in a 32-over unbroken opening partnership, and West Indies declared on 182 for no wicket late on the fourth day, leaving England a target of 435 for victory.
After a good start, with an opening partnership of 54 between Wood and Amiss, England were bowled out for 173 in 31.4 overs, with Vanburn Holder taking 5-50, and West Indies won by 50 runs.
On 2 June 1976, the eve of the first test match of the series, England captain Tony Greig was interviewed on BBC’s midweek sports program Sportsnight.
In the interview, Greig was forced to respond to questions concerning England’s chances of winning the series against the young West Indies' side.
And I intend, with the help of Closey and a few others, to make them grovel.” The insensitive comments only inflamed the racial and colonial implications surrounding the 1976 series.
He got our backs up and made us more determined.” Greig claimed the word grovel was used only as a response to the way the interviewer had been discrediting the England team as major underdogs in the match-up.
When asked about the remark prior to the first test, the West Indian captain Clive Lloyd gave Greig the benefit of the doubt surrounding the use of the word grovel.
Lloyd however declared being furious about how Greig had patronizingly characterized the West Indies team as unprofessional and nonchalant Calypso cricketers.
During the final match at The Oval as defeat became imminent for the English side, Greig kneeled down on to the pitch smiling and performed a ‘grovel’ crawl on the ground.
The act of contrition was received with applause from a large portion of the West Indians fans present that had been previously taunting the England captain.