Sarwan spearheads hardened Windies

Ramnaresh Sarwan steps back to cut: the indelible image of his career-best 291 in the Kensington Oval Test match

Ramnaresh Sarwan heads into the mini-Test series against England in unusual fashion - on the back of a West Indies win and a rare accolade of his own.

During a decade as an international batsman, Sarwan, a technician with precise footwork, has all too often churned out respectable scores in losing causes.

So West Indies' surprise 1-0 victory over England in the Caribbean earlier this year, their first Test series success for five years, twinned with only the third man of the series award of Sarwan's career, represented a change for the better.

England were sick of the sight of Sarwan and his trademark square cut by early March.

The Guyanese right-hander made scores of 107, 94, 106 and 291, his Test best, highlighting how one individual's form can shape a side's progress.

"It meant a great deal, I have said before that I do what is necessary for the team," Sarwan, 28, said.

"I am not a player who focuses on himself. I try to play my best and adapt to the team situation and I thought I did that pretty well in that series."

He finished it with a Test average of 42.57, his highest since he completed his first series in England nine years ago.

Sarwan, Chris Gayle and another seasoned player Shivnarine Chanderpaul will once again provide the batting backbone of a unit which arrived in the UK earlier this month more confident than on recent visits here - they lost seven of the eight Tests played in 2004 and 2007.

In fact, the improved return of both Sarwan himself and the overall team in the Caribbean series highlighted a new work ethic instilled under the captain-coach axis of Gayle and John Dyson.

Extra discipline and responsibility has delivered extra reward and while once their off-field activity related to partying in the stands, the gym is now a preferred destination.

"I think it was the hard work I put in during the break I got leading up this past series," said Sarwan.

West Indies' players have responded better to the John Dyson-Chris Gayle partnership than their previous incumbents

"During the series I did a lot of work with our physiotherapist and I think the fitness work I did really helped with my concentration.

"At the start of that series we said it was really important to get as consistent as we can and I think, not only myself, but all of us, tried really hard to get that.

"To win was great – obviously we haven’t won a series in five years, and it was even more special to beat England at home.

"Myself, Chris and Shiv have played a lot of games and we haven’t won too many series – and I am sure it also means a great deal to the younger players as well.

"The big change in our team has been the grit and determination that we have.

"I am not saying we never had it before but Chris has mentioned many times that we have really worked very hard on our game and we have developed an understanding with each other.

"Guys are pretty aware of what they need to do in certain situations."

None more so than Fidel Edwards, who kept his nerve in two rearguard actions to preserve West Indies' narrow 1-0 lead.

The players have undoubtedly taken to Gayle's leadership style - even Sarwan, his long-term captaincy rival - but the influence of a former Australia Test opener in Dyson should not be overlooked.

"He has certainly been different," said Sarwan. "But he has accepted our culture and that has been a very big part in the way we go about doing our stuff.

"It is important when you have a foreign coach to accept those sort of things."