England v West Indies: Michael Holding narrates a story through the ages

Michael Holding was poetry in motion as he destroyed England in 1976. Click on the video above to hear him read an extract from Benedict Bermange's epic re-telling of series past...

The first West Indies tourists came in nineteen twenty-eight

To better Chapman's England team just proved a task too great

Conditions were extremely hard for them to find their feet

Each Test Match in the series ended in a big defeat

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The Caribbean hosted England's team just two years on

Both teams won a Test Match but the others ended drawn

The final Timeless Test saw Sandham hit three twenty-five

Set eight-three-six to win the home team managed to survive

The popular West Indies tour of nineteen thirty-nine

Was headlined by George Headley and Sir Learie Constantine

The legendary batsman hit two centuries at Lord's

Which gave him a unique position on the honours boards

The nineteen fifty tourists were outplayed in the first Test

But bounced right back at Lord's and then went on and won the rest

Twas Ramadhin and Valentine - such mastery of spin

Who turned them round from also-rans to bring a series win

The legendary three W's of Walcott, Worrell, Weekes

Supported by Lance Gibbs providing all his flighted tweaks

At Birmingham in fifty-seven England saved the day

All thanks to Colin Cowdrey and his skipper Peter May

And Cowdrey was the focal point at Lord's some six years on

Nine wickets down when surely they had feared all hope was gone

His England team close to defeat then had to watch aghast

As he strode proudly to the crease, his left arm in a cast

With Garry Sobers in the team they could not help but win

With his ability to change from bowling seam to spin

He set the stage alight with his explosive batting skills

Which guaranteed to give the crowd some memorable thrills

The now infamous 'grovel' quote from captain Tony Greig

Ignited that hot summer like a stormy powder keg

Clive Lloyd decided in his wisdom he would counter back

Unleashing for the first time his great four-pronged pace attack

Who wouldn't try that route with such a devastating choice

Of legends such as Garner, Holding, Marshall, Croft and Boyce?

But pure intimidation wasn't just their only strength

Exhibiting such mastery of bowling line and length

Those great six balls from Holding must still haunt Geoff Boycott's dreams

The last one took his stumps out to the fielders' raucous screams

Viv Richards helped by Dujon, Hooper, Gomes, Greenidge and Haynes

Brought ten wins in a row to lengthen England's lasting pains

First Marshall and then Patterson inflicted frightful blows

Poor Gatting copped one in his face which rearranged his nose

At his home in Antigua captain Richards joined the fun

And struck a stunning, record-breaking, fifty-six-ball ton

In nineteen-eighty-eight four captains tried to stem the tide

Their Wisden Trophy prospects all too soon were brushed aside

Then Gooch and Lamb at last inspired a win in Kingston town

But dark set in at Trinidad as Richards slowed things down

An epic, one-five-four from Gooch then won the Test at Leeds

The series ended tied despite more Ambrose daring deeds

But back on his home turf, he soon was up to his old tricks

As England failed at Trinidad - all out for forty-six

That was the first time England saw the Lara cover drive

He smashed past Sobers' record with a huge three-seven-five

In ninety-five though new man Cork had just started to click

First over of the day he took a notable hat-trick

In ninety-eight the pitch made headlines at Sabina Park

But Angus Fraser's wickets did ensure he left his mark

And come 2000 England hauled themselves out of their trough

All thanks to Andy Caddick and the boisterous Darren Gough

Blond seamer Matthew Hoggard then enjoyed a purple patch

A hat-trick at Barbados helped his side to win the match

Back at the Recreation Ground, while watching fans adored

Another record, from his bat, four hundred runs were scored

With Andy Flower at the helm and skipper Andrew Strauss

All out for fifty-one suggested they might lack the nous

Delaying declarations twice with five hundred required

The series ended in defeat as those tactics backfired

The series here in twenty-twelve was briefly brought alive

By Tino Best at Birmingham who wowed with ninety-five

Their latest series started well with England soon on top

But ended at one-all after another batting flop

Watch the first Test between England and the West Indies - the first day-night Test in England - live on Sky Sports from 1pm on Sky Sports Cricket on Thursday (first ball 2pm), with over-by-over commentary and in-play video clips on our digital platforms.