Alastair Cook, the England captain (right), and coach Peter Moores see the West Indies as a must win tour. Photograph: John Walton\/PA<\/p>\n
It is perhaps apt England begin their tour of the West Indies in close proximity to the setting of Death in Paradise. After all, anything other than victory in the three-Test series and there is likely to be blood in the clear blue waters of the Caribbean. <\/p>\n
The BBC murder mystery is filmed on Guadeloupe, part of the Leeward Islands and an area that also includes the neighbouring St Kitts. That is where England arrived on Friday for their two warm-up matches against a St Kitts & Nevis Invitation XI that precede the series against West Indies. <\/p>\n
Related: Alastair Cook uncertain whether Jonathan Trott will handle Test return <\/p>\n
Sharks are still circling Peter Moores, Englands coach, after the shipwreck that was his sides shambolic World Cup campaign. The positions of Moores and Paul Downton, the managing director of England cricket, were significantly weakened by the shambles in Australia and New Zealand. <\/p>\n
Alastair Cook, the returning Test captain who is without an international century in almost two years, could do with some convincing performances as well. In light of the comments by Colin Graves, the incoming chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, the futures of all three men could well rest on the outcome of the series here. <\/p>\n
Graves does not take office until next month but has wasted no time in laying down the law. He has already caused offence in this part of the world by writing off a West Indies team shorn of nine regulars thanks to the Indian Premier League as mediocre. The bluff Yorkshireman has also put the triumvirate of Moores, Downton and Cook on notice by saying there will be inquiries if England lose the series. <\/p>\n
Things are always heightened in the build-up to an Ashes summer. However, this year the stakes have been raised even higher by Englands World Cup embarrassment and Gravess encouragement to Kevin Pietersen. The exiled batsman, discarded amid the purge that followed the 2013-14 Ashes whitewash, has rejoined Surrey and committed to playing first-class cricket after negotiating a release from his IPL deal with Sunrisers Hyderabad. An England recall seems highly implausible, if not impossible. However, the fact Pietersen is still dominating the news agenda 14 months on from his very public divorce from the ECB is a distraction the team could do without. <\/p>\n
Cook, who has benefitted from the three months off provided to him by losing the one-day captaincy, is at least aware of the stakes. Asked on Saturdaywhat would constitute success over the next five weeks, he replied simply: A series win. <\/p>\n
That really is the bottom line and despite all the problems the team have endured in recent months, they should have more than enough quality to beat West Indies. <\/p>\n
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Alastair Cook accepts only a series win will suffice against West Indies<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Alastair Cook, the England captain (right), and coach Peter Moores see the West Indies as a must win tour. Photograph: John Walton\/PA It is perhaps apt England begin their tour of the West Indies in close proximity to the setting of Death in Paradise. Continue reading