Things are relaxed within the England ranks right now. The first Test produced a comprehensive win (although not as overwhelming as the margin suggests), any jitters have calmed, the families have begun to drift in and the second Test begins today to concentrate minds once more. International cricket these days leaves little time to dwell on the past.
England know they sneaked it in Jamaica on the strength of one potty session following nine that had been closely contested. It is something that Michael Vaughan has already gone out of his way to stress just in case any complacency had crept in.
The captain, starting to look and sound more comfortable in his role, knows that but for fortune it could easily have been his side that tumbled.
"We had a chat about it and the lads were very open and honest," he said before yesterday's final practice. "That game could have gone the other way. In our first session with the bat we could easily have been bowled out for 100 the way they were bowling.
"It was tough and we batted two days to get a 28-run lead, through patience, courage and individual brilliance. You only have to look at the bruises on Mark Butcher's arms and shoulders to see that. We were on the back foot for much of that game.
"It was a surreal finish and you can't expect that to happen on a regular basis. But until two hours of cricket changed everything it had been pretty even. That is what we have to be aware of because they could do the same to us at any time."
Vaughan knows there is a wounded creature out there and its name is Brian Lara. Such is the fickle nature of rankings that a man who began the series as the world's leading batsman has ended the first match outside the top four but Lara, almost into his cricketing dotage, remains the threat to England.
At Sabina he was jumpy and in the second innings batted under the handicap of the sore finger he had dislocated in the slips. England were fortunate to dismiss him twice at bargain-basement cost. However, Vaughan knows it is not a question of if this genius will respond. History says he will.
Five years ago, on his home Queen's Park Oval, West Indies were bowled out by Australia for 51, their lowest score until this week's 47. Lara's reaction was to score 213 in the next Test in Jamaica and the most brilliant unbeaten 153 in Bridgetown, inspiring two victories. The following year, in England, after the side had been dismissed for 54, Lara went to Old Trafford and produced 112 in a drawn match. He does not do scorned very well.
Playing in his home country has always seemed to add an extra burden to Lara, he has an average there a shade under 40, modest by his standards. But when he made a century against Australia at Queen's Park Oval in his last innings on the ground, the only one of his 24 Test hundreds made in Trinidad, it may have removed the pressure of public expectation that greets him every time he goes to the crease here.
He may find the pitch more to his liking too than the fast bouncy surface at Sabina Park. "If the pitch stays the same as it has been over the past few days," said Vaughan, "it will be bat first if you win the toss, survive the first session and then capitalise later in the match when the bounce becomes uneven on the low side."
In such circumstances it is the tall bowlers who prosper. The last decade has seen 16 five-wicket performances here, 15 by speed from a height, the other by the Indian spinner Anil Kumble.
"We are lucky in that regard to have two tall bowlers in Steve Harmison and Andy Flintoff," said Vaughan. Harmison has found himself thrust to celebrity status and a place in the world's top 10 strictly on the basis of his seven for 12 in Jamaica. But after the shove up the backside he received through not being offered a central contract, he has been nailing down some useful credentials. His final wicket in Jamaica was his 50th in Tests and of those who have reached that landmark for England in the past 10 years none can bet ter his average of 25.76. "He knows it will be a lot harder for him now," said Vaughan.
"The West Indies batsmen have all had a good look and no doubt it won't bounce as much as it did in Jamaica. He is a laid-back and relaxed kind of guy. But I can see his body language in the nets and his approach over the last few days and he is definitely up for the challenge."
For the first time since the second Test against South Africa last summer England will field an unchanged side. West Indies are forced to change through the injury to Fidel Edwards. His half-brother Pedro Collins will replace him. Ryan Hinds may be discarded in favour of Dwayne Smith, who made a scintillating century on his debut in South Africa.
Probable teams:
England
*Michael Vaughan
Marcus Trescothick
Mark Butcher
Nasser Hussain
Graham Thorpe
Andrew Flintoff
Chris Read
Ashley Giles
Matthew Hoggard
Simon Jones
Steve Harmison
West Indies Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, *Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Smith,Ridley Jacobs, Corey Collymore,Pedro Collins, Tino Best, Adam Sanford
Pitch watch:
The strip is bound together with a healthy growth of grass and is unlikely to help spinners. Some bare patches mean that it might tend towards being two-paced, with low uneven bounce as the game progresses. Although hard it will not possess the same pace as did Sabina Park. Covering yesterday means it will have some moisture left for the new ball.
Weather Sunny with a slight chance of rain and cloud later tonight.
Temperatures 29C (85F) max, 21C (69F) min. Humidity 55%.
Win toss and bat.