The tourists have not won a series in the Caribbean since 1968 but the remarkable decline in the strength of West Indies' bowling attack in the last decade and a confident young England side have left many convinced that Michael Vaughan's team can break the run.

Gone are the likes of Michael Holding and Joel Garner, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, fast bowlers who have terrorised England at various times over the last 20 years.

In their place are four men who can boast only 24 Test appearances between them.

The admittance on the eve of the first Test by Brian Lara, who continues as West Indies captain, that England have their best chance of a Caribbean series win since that 1968 triumph speaks volumes.

``History is a big thing,'' Lara said. ``We have to maintain it and there's a little more pressure on England to overturn it.

``Of course there's some pressure on us, but it's an exciting time for us. We don't want to be the ones to end it (the record).''

Only three England players, former skipper Nasser Hussain, Graham Thorpe and Mark Butcher, who passed a late fitness test on a strained ankle, have played Test cricket in the Caribbean.

``None of our players were even born 36 years ago,'' Vaughan said, ``and only three have played here before. It's good to have a lot of players without any cobwebs to shake off.

``We've got to take it (history) as a big motivation.''

With Butcher passed fit, England have a full squad from which to choose but West Indies have been hit by the loss through injury of Dwayne Smith, who scored a century on his Test debut against South Africa in January.

Smith dislocated a finger during fielding practice on Tuesday, but Lara, appearing relaxed, said he still expected a strong performance from his side.