As a finale to an outstanding tradition, England A's tour of the Caribbean proved a disappointing anti-climax as the net result showed a below-expectations third place in the Busta Cup and defeat in the semi-finals of the Busta International Shield.

With an unbeaten record spanning 36 games and six years going into the tournament, England A had set themselves high standards against opponents who were tarnished by the debate over the disastrous state of West Indian cricket.

But they were surprised by the strength in depth of the sides they came across throughout the islands and were able to inflict only three defeats in eight games, the others ending in draws and at the final hurdle, in defeat.

Against Leeward Islands, the penultimate match, they were stunned by pace, not only from Kerry Jeremy and Ricky Christopher but from the excellent Anguilla track which was way faster and bouncier than anything they had previously seen.

By then, they had been on tour for two months and both fitness levels and application were starting to wane, a development that proved especially disappointing to skipper Mark Alleyne.

"I haven't been very pleased with the tour to be honest," said Alleyne after the seven-wicket defeat by Guyana at Bourda.

"You get the feeling in the last three weeks that a bit of fatigue has set in which shouldn't really happen because we play a lot of four-day cricket back home.

"But it has been hard work - four days' cricket and then the travelling caught up with us so we have to be fitter and stronger and make sure that if it does happen again, we can compete for the full trip.

"We saw the Test series in Pakistan won on the last day of the series after a long trip so we have to up our fitness levels and be able to concentrate and compete over a whole trip, not just when it is nice and fresh and easy."

Admittedly, there were some additional discomforts to contend with for the team. They were frequently booked on early-morning flights forcing them out of their beds at a disorienting 4am and their passage was rarely smooth or quick, the irksome connections across the islands creating long, harassing days.

Some of their accommodation also posed problems. In Anguilla, a clutch of players had no water, no phone and, apparently worse still, no television in their rooms, though few complained. Such discomforts are all part and parcel of the challenge of touring.

The departures of David Sales and Aftab Habib through injury were blows for the tourists. But Surrey opener Ian Ward boosted the cause with an excellent contribution of 769 runs, at an average of 64.08.

The experienced Lancashire captain John Crawley made 373 runs at 31.08 and Michael Powell and Alleyne made good contributions at vital times.

Once he was given his chance, after the departure of Jason Brown to Sri Lanka, leg-spinner Chris Schofield found long bowling spells to his liking and became the best bowler on the tour with 22 wickets, despite playing in only five games. He also made two half-centuries and saved runs in the field with his lightning-fast returns.

Ryan Sidebottom, with 16 wickets at 16.81, topped the bowling averages and made progress.

Jon Lewis impressed with his discipline and excellent fielding and as a replacement for Durham's Steve Harmison, who pulled out with a foot injury just before the tour started, proved a worthwhile selection and a popular tourist.

Alex Tudor suffered an injury midway through the tour, which forced him to miss three games.

Wicket-keeper Chris Read found his place taken by promising James Foster, but he finished on a high note after an almost faultless performance in the final match against Guyana, where his second innings proved the most responsible of any in the middle order.

Foster, who made a half-century on his debut against Guyana in Grenada, remains an exciting prospect.

"There is still a bit of immaturity in the group and we need to grow up a little bit quicker," said Alleyne.

"Talent-wise, there is no problem but maturity will bring out the best of the talent that we have got. A lot of things have gone against us – in England things can be quite comfortable and you get looked after well and you come abroad and things are not like that.

"They don't care too much for you – you get some decisions that might not go your way and some of the rules they interpret in different ways – lots of things are different but you have to learn to cope with it.

"As long as you give everything you can and if you can walk off the field with your chest out and head held high, you cannot be too disappointed but I'm not sure that a few of the guys will be able to do that after their performances in Guyana."

Next year, England's second winter touring team is likely to be picked from young cricketers, aged 19-23, who are attending the England and Wales Cricket Board's new National Academy, which is set to see its inaugural intake in place by November this year.

The age restriction would have ruled out nine players who toured the Caribbean this winter including mainstay batsman Ward, 27. Future England campaigns for the Busta Cup will therefore pose an even bigger challenge for the nation's fledgling cricketers.

© CricInfo Ltd.