[1] This was Ray Illingworth's first series in charge as England Team Manager as well as Chairman of Selectors, having sacked Keith Fletcher earlier in the year after the Ashes defeat.

England's 3–1 defeat in the Ashes series in Australia was considered a real disappointment, and ultimately led to the dismissal of Team Manager Keith Fletcher.

The defeat became a symbolic point in the exchange of power between the two sides, ending the West Indies' dominance and signalling Australia overtaking them as the leading cricketing nation.

[2] For England, Mike Atherton was retained as captain, though his appointment was only confirmed on the eve of the season, and the One Day International series saw debuts for Lancashire's Peter Martin and Kent's Alan Wells, while the West Indies blooded Ottis Gibson, a fiery all-rounder from Barbados.

West Indian concerns at the start of the summer surrounded the form of captain Richie Richardson, who began the tour with a run of low scores, and a series of injuries to bowlers' backs, allegedly a result of sleeping on soft beds.

Instead a début was handed to Peter Martin, who had impressed with a four-wicket haul on his ODI debut, and Devon Malcolm was included on the basis of his extra pace.

Amidst the rain, Atherton and Robin Smith added 52 for the first wicket before Benjamin struck with a ball that moved back in, and the edge carried to the visitors' captain at third slip.

Of the England batsmen only Thorpe (61) really found his feet, though he was as lucky as anyone – a mis-timed pull bounced back off the bottom of the stumps without disturbing the bails, and he survived again on the third evening when he was dropped at slip by Keith Arthurton.

Atherton won the toss and elected to bat first, and although the West Indian bowlers made inroads either side of lunch it looked the right decision with Robin Smith (61) and Graham Thorpe (52) taking the score up to 185/3 just after the tea interval.

Hick (67) eventually succumbed to Bishop from around the wicket before bad light called a halt to proceedings on the third day, and Ramprakash was dispatched by the same bowler the next morning, which brought Thorpe back to the crease showing no ill effects from his overnight stay at St Mary's.

Murray and the tail hung around tenaciously, each taking up valuable time, but after Campbell played uncharacteristically across the line and edged to Stewart, Ambrose and Walsh were quickly dismissed by the debutant, whose figures of 7/43 were well supported by Gough (3/79) and the workhorse Fraser.