Butcher ready for Windies challenge

By Martin Gough

If England need any reminder that they cannot be complacent in the West Indies, veteran batsman Mark Butcher will be able to provide it.

Butcher is optimistic for England's chances in the Caribbean

On his first senior tour in 1998, Butcher was called into the team at the last minute as an injury replacement for what became an infamous first Test at Sabina Park, Jamaica.

The pitch was so bad that England physio Wayne Morton was called onto the field six times in the first 10 overs to deal with bruises.

Within the first hour play was halted, and the match was eventually abandoned for the first, and so far only, time in Test history.

"I'd been there for a month before I'd even batted in the middle," Butcher recalls.

"I got called up 20 minutes before the first Test, got a first-baller and the game was abandoned after 10 overs."

That is an extreme example but as England prepare for their first series in the Caribbean for six years, they know anything can happen.

Brian Lara's team are at a low ebb. In the last five years, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia have all breeched the once impregnable West Indies fortress to gain series Test victories.

When the batsmen on either side get going it's going to be difficult for either side to stop that Mark Butcher

But England can be sure they will fight to the last to defend their home ground.

"They're a completely different proposition when they're at home," Butcher told BBC Sport.

"There's a massive amount of pride and patriotism in the separate islands and that tends to bring out the best in their cricketers.

"So they certainly won't be rolling over for Englishmen."

During their recent 3-0 defeat in South Africa, the West Indian tourists proved that a corps of young batsmen are improving quickly, while a crop of pace bowlers is reaching maturity.

In comparison, England have a veteran top six, and a pace attack which is still in need of experience.

"We play similar styles of cricket because of the make-up of the sides," says Butcher.

Physio Morton tends Alec Stewart at Sabina Park

"Neither side has got a genius spinner - we rely quite heavily on the pace attack.

"When the batsmen on either side get going it's going to be difficult for either side to stop that."

Butcher says the 1998 trip remains one of his greatest cricketing memories, from a career that now spans 62 Tests.

"The grounds tend to be quite small and the crowds are right on top of you," he goes on.

"There are wonderful people who love cricket probably more than anywhere else in the world and it's very difficult to escape the romance of playing cricket out there."

And whatever the potential pitfalls, England have a strong chance of banishing some of the terrible recent memories from the Caribbean to win a series there for the first time in 36 years.

"Now is a pretty good time to be going over there," Butcher admits.

"Whilst they are extremely strong when they play at home, and they are very difficult to beat, if you're going to do it then now is the right time."