England started their tour of the Caribbean in fine style by bowling out a St Kitts Invitational XI for 59 within the first session of this two-day match. While England will be more happy and more confident with their morning's work - their fielding, in particular, was excellent - the opposition offered by a side containing one 16-year-old and several players without first-class experience was woefully poor.
Indeed, it tells you everything you need to know about the St Kitts performance that a stray dog that ran on to the playing area during the morning session provided more resistance to leaving the pitch than any of the batsmen.
But England will be encouraged by the bowling of Ben Stokes, who taken 3- wickets in 5- balls at one stage, and all but guaranteed his place in the side for the first Test in Antigua in a week. It also seems certain that Jonathan Trott will be in that side. Trott, named as opening batsman in this game ahead of Adam Lyth, is now in pole position to return to Test cricket for the first time since November 2013.
The selection of Chris Jordan ahead of Liam Plunkett and Chris Wood - both of whom are fit - also showed an indication of England's plans for the Test side. Adil Rashid and James Tredwell would appear to be competing for a place as the lone spin bowler.
England mildly changed their policy by appointing Ian Bell as the team's official vice-captain throughout the tour. While Alastair Cook has, in the past, argued that appointing a vice-captain might discourage other senior players from offering their views or taking responsibility, Bell has been appointed in the hope that the responsibility brings out the best in him.
St Kitts never threatened to set a decent first innings total. James Anderson beat the bat regularly with the new ball before producing a gem that nipped away, defeated Sherwin Peters' footless grope and took the top of off stump, before Stokes, maintaining a probing line to left and right hander, claimed his wickets with Cook and Gary Ballance taking a succession of fine, low catches in the cordon.
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