'As sobering as a New Year detox'

It has been six long years since England last embarked on a tour of the Caribbean. In that time West Indies have hit rock-bottom, bounced a couple of times, and now - typically - are beginning to show signs of that long-awaited renaissance, just in time for England's arrival. True, they haven't exactly set the world alight on their current tour of South Africa, but with Brian Lara in his best form for a decade, and a host of young and free-spirited batsmen following in his wake, the next couple of months promise to be a torrid time for England's bowlers.

John Etheridge was sounding particularly sceptical in The Sun. "England have unveiled the men they believe can tame the genius of Brian Lara," he declared, before adding: "They are a mixed bag of confidence-challenged, injury-prone bowlers with just 326 Test wickets between them." But, in keeping faith with the 15 men who were originally selected for the tours of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Etheridge was at least satisfied that the selectors were being consistent.

"The Master Blaster's current form is as sobering as a New Year detox," announced The Mirror's Mike Walters, who feared that Lara's "ramrod-straight bat" could cause England as much heartache as Muttiah Muralitharan's "corkscrew arm" did before Christmas. "So reinvigorated is his appetite for harvesting runs," added Walters, "that bookies William Hill are offering only 33-1 against Lara to break Matthew Hayden's world-record 380 this year."

"[England's bowlers] will need to show as much nerve as verve to come out on top," suggested Derek Pringle in The Daily Telegraph. "Grounds in the Caribbean are small with demanding, urgent crowds and games can quickly slide away when batsmen throw the bat. Bowlers will need character and control, something in short supply since Andrew Flintoff's workload was cut to save his groaning body."

Much of the comment surrounds the probable selection of Simon Jones - assuming he comes through England A's trip to India and Malaysia without any further problems from the knee he injured so horrifically in the first Ashes Test last winter. "Jones could easily find himself playing in the opening Test at Sabina Park, Kingston, the quickest track in the West Indies," said Pringle. "If he does, it would rank as one of the greatest returns from injury in any sport, given the grotesque angle that his leg bent at the Gabba." Pringle, however, was less convinced about Jones's fellow speedster, Steve Harmison: "He has the height and pace to be as effective as Curtly Ambrose, but will have to win over the sceptics within his team, who feel he does not always savour the 'hard yards'."

England's answer to Ambrose on that 1997-98 tour, Angus Fraser, was understandably tub-thumping about the need for accuracy as well as out-and-out speed. Writing in The Independent, he extolled the time-honoured virtues of line and length. "Pace has to be combined with accuracy if it is to be effective against batsmen who love playing shots against anything short and wide," he preached. "And this is the challenge for Jones. In Brian Lara, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Smith - who scored a magnificent century on his Test debut against South Africa on Tuesday - the West Indies possess five batsmen who can take apart a wayward attack."

Christopher Martin-Jenkins of The Times agreed. "The lesson of Fraser's success in the West Indies six years ago, and indeed of all cricket played on flat pitches down the years, is that against the best batsmen it is accuracy, extra bounce and an ability to move the ball through the air or off the seam that gets results." But, with the experience of Martin Bicknell once again overlooked, CMJ feared for the success of England's greenhorn attack. "Rapid improvement will be necessary," he intoned, "both if England are to win in the West Indies for the first time since Harold Wilson was Prime Minister, and if a credible attack for the next Ashes series is to be developed."

The last word, however, must go to The Guardian, who were so unenthused by the squad announcement that they hardly saw fit to mention it at all. Instead, they offered a full-page feature on how tough life has been for Test bowlers in the last 12 months. "If you meet a Test bowler in the street, do not ask him how he is," warned Tanya Aldred. "Do not seek to look at his figures or invite him home to watch a 2003 highlights package. This is a bad time for bowlers."

The worry for England, is that the good times remain some way away yet.