Kraigg Brathwaite identifies areas of improvement for West Indies

NICK HOWSON: The captain wants more consistency with the ball in the middle overs and a better performance from the designated spinner

West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite was impressed with the "fight" shown by his team in the first Test draw with England in Antigua.

Set 286 to win in 71 overs, the Windies never threatened the target and instead set about batting out the day.

Jack Leach claimed 3 for 57 but an 80-run stand across 35.4 overs from Nkrumah Bonner and Jason Holder, who soaked up more than 100 deliveries each, saw both sides shake hands with five balls remaining.

It leaves the series all square heading into the second Test in Barbados starting on Wednesday (March 16).

Brathwaite's side more than played their part in the stalemate. Nkrumah Bonner struck 123, Kemar Roach and Jaydon Seales impressed with the ball and Holder played two vital innings and was bowled with skill and accuracy.

Yet, the captain sees several areas of development.

"Hard-fought, all five days," he said at the post-match presentation. "It is hard work and we showed we had some fight at the end.

^{Nkrumah Bonner soaked up 493 balls across the match (Randy Brooks/Getty Images)}

"That was a very good effort from the bowling group and the batters who batted on the last day as well.

"First innings, we were good with the new ball. In the middle when the ball wasn't doing much we need to find ways to be a bit tighter. At times it was 3.5 runs per over.

"If we bring that down throughout the innings, that builds more pressure and makes getting those five, six wickets easier to get."

Bonner was the star of the show, claiming a second Test hundred in the first inning and then keeping England at bay with a ninth innings last 100 deliveries or more in 10 Tests. He faced 493 across his two innings - the 11th most by a West Indian in Tests.

"I think he's better than me, to be honest," added Brathwaite. "Before the game, he told me 300 balls, that's the determination he had. 

"He set the example in the first innings and today he came again and showed his worth. He has a special mindset and to be honest he set the example for us to follow."

Brathwaite is hopeful there will be more on offer for the bowlers in Bridgetown. Just two of the last 17 Tests there have been drawn and none since 2011.

He recently led Barbados to successive wins in the West Indies Four-Day Championship at the venue and is hoping for similar conditions.

"This pitch was good for batting. Barbados we played a first-class game and the ball was doing a bit," he explained. "So the bowlers may get a bit more in Barbados early.

"This was flatter than we hoped for but the pacers will get a little more in Barbados."

^{Veersammy Permaul  (ISHARA S. KODIKARA/Getty Images)}

Veersammy Permaul was arguably the weak link in the Windies XI, failing to offer any control as the frontline spinner. He shipped 99 runs in 25 wicketless overs and came in for criticism from Brathwaite.

"It's finding ways to build pressure," he added. "A spinner, under three runs an over is crucial.

"The ball didn't spin much, so the spinner has to be tight. There are areas, in terms of run rate, where we could improve, setting a field and bowling to it and we can do that better in the middle overs when a partnership may build. 

"Once we get tighter that will create a bit more pressure for us to get the later wickets in the innings."