England Record Their 3rd Lowest Test Score Ever

jerome taylor inspired figures of 5 for 11

For five years, West Indians, and in particular Jamaicans, have agonised over the humiliation of being dismissed for 47 at Sabina Park – destroyed by Steve Harmison’s 7-12.

Yesterday, out of the blue, it was the turn of another fast bowler, the slightly built Jamaican, Jerome Taylor from Aberdeen on the fringe of the Cockpit Country in northern St Elizabeth and a descendant of the famous fighting Maroons.

His 5-11 in nine overs – a spell for the ages – shocked England to their very core and removed the cream of their batting, rendering inevitable an incredible West Indies victory in four days.

Coach Andy Flower admitted England buckled under West Indies pressure as they slumped to a humiliating defeat in the first Test where they were skittled out for their third lowest total in history.

“I think the bottom line is that the players have to take responsibility for not handling the pressure situation very well and not getting through it,” said Flower.

“From this, we can learn that playing international cricket is about dealing with pressure, and batting in the second innings was pressure. What you have to be able to do in international cricket is handle the pressure, and we did not do that on Saturday.”

“Things like this happen in international sport, and it has happened too often to us,” he said.

“I do not believe for one moment that the players are not learning anything. I think the contrary is the case, and they are learning.

“But it is not like this is happening every innings, so I do not think you can label the players as totally unable to handle pressure.”

England Lowest Ever Test Cricket Totals . . .

45 England v Australia Sydney 1886-87

46 England v West Indies Port of Spain 1993-94

51 England v West Indies Kingston 2009

Find the 10 Lowest England Test Scores of All Time