'England were outplayed, outperformed' – Joe Root laments series loss

The Windies dismantled England for 132 in the third innings in Antigua, which meant the hosts needed just 14 runs to clinch the Test. They scaled the target in 2.1 overs, completing a 10-wicket victory to seal the series.

“We came here to win and to find ourselves out of it with a game to go is hard to take," said Root after the match on Saturday, 2 February. "We have been outplayed, outperformed and have to take that on the chin.

“We have to learn some lessons. The way West Indies went about stuff in certain areas has been very skilled, especially how they batted yesterday against some very high-skilled bowling. That was frustrating.

"We haven't performed with the bat as we would have liked and that hasn't helped our case. You won't win many games scoring less than 200 twice.

“There were guys that will have to look at themselves individually. But on a surface like that, you have to commit to whatever decision you make. It was definitely a bowler-friendly surface. I wouldn’t say it was a fair contest between bat and ball. But both sides have played on it and they’ve managed certain areas better than us.”

England have the chance to salvage pride in the final Test, and Root wants his team to "respond quickly and respond well" to claim their first victory of the series.

"We've got to make sure we respond quickly and we respond well when we get to St Lucia and finish positively as a side," he explained. "We haven't had that same approach as we had in Sri Lanka of going out there and really taking sides on.

"I think there has been some very highly skilled bowling in bowling-friendly conditions and the big moments we haven't managed as well as they have."

Darren Bravo played a crucial role in the hosts' victory in Antigua, scoring a patient fifty in 216 deliveries. When asked if any batsman in England's fiery line-up can play an innings like that, Root said, “I think a number of guys can. I’d like to think I can. I felt unfortunate not to make a big contribution and when experienced players aren’t making scores over 50 it makes it very difficult for the rest of the guys around them.

“The choice comes down to the individual. I can’t bat for 11 guys, neither can Trevor Bayliss nor Mark Ramprakash. The responsibility is down to the individual. But we will stick together and try and come back with a really strong response in St Lucia.”

The final Test starts in St Lucia from 9 February.