What can England learn from the First Test?

So England won the opening Test of a series for the first time in four years, writes Duncan Fletcher in the Guardian, which is important enough. "just as importantly for a side that has come off a tough winter, they won it comfortably. If West Indies want to blame the conditions, that's up to them. But to hold on to the Wisden Trophy you need to perform on both sides of the ocean. They were lacklustre at Lord's while England were right on the money. It sets the summer up perfectly."

However, let's not run away with ourselves and think we've discovered our Ashes line-up off the back of one Test. And let's not assume that everyone came out the three-day win with equal merit. "I always felt as coach that the best time to assess your standing was after a victory. Defeat should bring a certain degree of analysis, of course, but not to the extent that the criticism turns into nitpicking.

"That can be counterproductive. A victory allows a bit of breathing space to look at the areas that can be improved on, even in a three-day win, and I'm sure the top order will be looking at their contribution," continues Fletcher. "The exception was Ravi Bopara, who was outstanding in bowler-friendly conditions and showed real composure with wickets falling around him. He played each ball on its merits and never looked flustered, which is one of the things I like about him."

The impact of bowler Graham Onions should not be over-estimated either, warns Fletcher. "It is difficult just yet to assess a guy like Graham Onions, who took seven wickets in conditions that played right into England's hands. Credit to him, because England have bowled on wickets like that before and not used them properly. I liked the fact that Onions got his length right, which is crucial on helpful pitches, and clearly had control of his action. He looked like he had the desire to be there and his body language was good. But let's see what happens when the wickets flatten out later in the summer."

Concludes Fletcher: "after the series defeat in the Caribbean this was just what England needed to restore a degree of self-belief. Now they need to do it again on Thursday." ·