The West Indies arrived in the UK in 1988 having remained undefeated since their previous tour four years earlier. During the interim period there had been several personnel changes, with Vivian Richards succeeding Clive Lloyd as captain and the retirements of both Michael Holding and Joel Garner.
Nevertheless, the wins had kept on coming – including a 3-1 success in Australia in 1984-5 and then, a year later, a second consecutive 5-0 drubbing of England, this time in the Caribbean.
Malcolm Marshall and Garner had taken 27 wickets apiece during the series and such was their dominance over England, none of David Gower’s side registered a three figure score during the entire series.
By the time of the 1988 season Mike Gatting had taken over the mantle as England captain and led his side to a morale-boosting series victory over the West Indies by winning all three One Day Internationals.
"Malcolm Marshall and Garner had taken 27 wickets apiece during the series and such was their dominance over England."
Hopes were high that England would be able to end their sorry run of Test match defeats against the West Indies which, as the sides headed for Trent Bridge for the first contest of the summer, stood at ten matches.
The opening day again showed England’s frailties with the bat. Graham Gooch of Essex and Nottinghamshire’s own Chris Broad put on 125 for the first wicket but by stumps, after a compelling but fairly dour six hours, the score had slipped to 220-5, with Marshall taking four of the wickets to fall.
Gooch had made 73 and Broad 54, in four hours, but Gatting, Gower and Lamb had all fallen cheaply. Apart from Pringle’s 39 there wasn’t much resistance thereafter, as Marshall finished with 6-69 and Curtly Ambrose mopped up the other four.
Rain and bad frequently interrupted the West Indies but despite regular stoppages they built a first innings lead of more than 200 before Richards declared late on the fourth evening.
The captain had made 80 out of a scorecard that featured healthy contributions with the top nine all getting into double figures. Carl Hooper hit 84, Malcolm Marshall 72 and Desmond Haynes 60.
A splendid century from Gooch, aided by an unbeaten 88 from Gower, took England to safety on the final day, ending their sorry run of defeats against the same opposition.
England v West Indies
(The Trent Bridge Tests)
2, 3, 4, 6, 7 June 1988 (5 day match)
Toss: won by England who elected to bat
Umpires: HD Bird, J Birkenshaw
Result: Match drawn
With the series already in their pocket, the tourists also visited Trent Bridge in late July to face a Nottinghamshire side that included a new face amongst their ranks. 23 year old South African trialist Dave Callaghan – later to play ODI cricket for his country – made his debut in English cricket and leaving a lasting impression.
Apart from Callaghan, Notts included New Zealander Chris Cairns and Franklyn Stephenson from Barbados in their starting eleven.
Cairns removed both Jeff Dujon and Carl Hooper on the first morning but it the fall of the third wicket made the headlines and the Nottinghamshire record books. With his first delivery for the county, the medium paced Callaghan clean bowled Keith Arthurton – making him only the fourth bowler to achieve the feat for Notts (Steve Sylvester in 1994 became the fifth).
Captain Vivian Richards blasted a quickfire 75 and Gus Logie made 53 but the batting honours went to Gordon Greenidge who made 101.
Showers disrupted the second day but the county side did well to reach 247 on the third, after being 11-3 at one stage, after losing Mick Newell, Tim Robinson and Paul Johnson. An undefeated 63 from Chris Scott plus good runs from Stephenson, who made 59, John Birch 32 and Callaghan 29 ensured respectability and a drawn outcome.
There was only time for the West Indies to face two overs in their second innings, with John Birch bowling the first and ‘keeper Scott the other – his bowling debut.
27,28,29 July 1988
West Indians 362 (Greenidge 101, Cairns 4-82) and 17-0
Notts 247 (Scott 63 not out)
Match Tickets On Sale Now
England v West Indies - Investec Test at Trent Bridge
England face West Indies in an Investec Test Match at Trent Bridge from Friday 25 May - Tuesday 29 May. Adult tickets cost £35-£50, all under 21s tickets cost £20, under 16s tickets cost £10 (£8 for day four) and family tickets cost £80 (2 adults, 2 under 16s).
Click here to buy tickets using our secure online payment system or call 0844 8118711.
England v West Indies - Natwest International Twenty20 at Trent Bridge
England face West Indies in a Natwest International Twenty20 at Trent Bridge at 2.30pm on Sunday 24 June. Adult tickets cost £25-£45, all under 21s tickets cost £20, under 16s tickets cost £10 and family tickets cost £60 (2 adults, 2 under 16s).
Click here to buy tickets using our secure online payment system or call 0844 8118711.
To book hospitality for either fixture, call 0844 8118712.
Read our exclusive West Indies Edition of Covered Magazine here.
International Hospitality At Trent Bridge
In 2012, England will play three matches at Trent Bridge and our hospitality guests will have the best seats in the house. Limited capacity remains for all days of play with shared facilities and private boxes ready to host you and your guests. Click here for details and pricing.
Clarke's Meadow & The Calypso Kings
Clarke’s Meadow & The Calypso Kings, the new hardback from Dave Bracegirdle, looks at how the West Indies have managed to keep intact a proud record of never having lost a first class fixtureat Trent Bridge and profiles the players who have enjoyed themselves as members of the county club.
Probably more than any other ground outside the Caribbean, Trent Bridge has become synonymous with West Indian success and a long unbeaten run in first class matches, a statistic that will next be tested during the Investec Test Match in May.
Click here to order your copy.
Dave Bracegirdle is a broadcaster, sports writer and author who provides ball-by-ball commentary of all of Nottinghamshire's LV= County Championship matches.