Joe Root 'really proud' after England draw first Test against West Indies

England captain Joe Root said he was "really proud" of his team after the drawn first Test against the West Indies provided some respite from a disappointing winter.

England arrived in the Caribbean under plenty of scrutiny after the 4-0 Ashes drubbing by Australia, but the tourists showed plenty more fight at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

After the West Indies claimed a 64-run lead in the first innings, England moved ahead and boldly declared on 349-6 with a lead of 285. The decision looked to pay off when England reduced the hosts to 67-4 but man of the match Nkrumah Bonner - who scored a century in the first innings - and Jason Holder combined for an 80-run partnership to send the match to a draw.

"I'm really proud of the team today, the [whole] week actually," Root said after England came up six wickets short of bowling out West Indies in the second innings in Antigua.

"From that first hour when we found ourselves in a tricky spot (losing four quick wickets), I think the character we showed off the back of the previous tour to not panic and get ourselves back in the game ... we got better and better on a very docile wicket for our seamers. A lot of good signs going into the rest of the series."

England's cause was not helped by the absence in the second innings of Mark Wood, out with a right elbow injury that Root said would be evaluated before the second Test starting in Barbados on Wednesday. Wood's presence might not have made much difference in the end, but it certainly did not help the cause.

"On that sort of wicket the extra bit of pace with the reverse (swing) is exactly what you want," Root said.

Zak Crawley celebrates his century for England during the second innings against West Indies. AFP

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