Insights

England's head coach Brendon McCullum expressed pride in the team's 3-0 series victory against the West Indies, highlighting their progress while acknowledging they are "not the finished article." The final match at Edgbaston showcased a dominant performance led by captain Ben Stokes, who opened the batting in place of Zak Crawley and scored a rapid half-century, helping England chase down a target of 82 runs in just 30 minutes. Mark Wood's impressive five-wicket haul earlier in the match solidified the team's 10-wicket win. Despite the emphatic results, including victories by an innings and 114 runs at Lord’s and by 241 runs at Trent Bridge, McCullum emphasized that the series was not one-sided and that there remains significant room for improvement. He noted the importance of the series win, stating, "It has been a while for us to get a series win and we’ll never take that for granted." Wicketkeeper Ben Smith played a crucial role, finishing with 14 catches and scoring 207 runs at an average of 51.75. McCullum praised Smith's ability to take risks and contribute to the team's aggressive style of play. Meanwhile, Atkinson emerged as England's top wicket-taker with 22 wickets at an impressive average of 16.22, earning him the player of the series title. McCullum commended Atkinson's skill and confidence, noting his ability to execute the captain's plans effectively.