 Hopes that this improvement could see a challenge mounted on the 1985/6 tour of the West Indies were dashed as England were pummelled to defeat by fearsome fast bowling.A shellshocked England went down to India 2 – 0 at home before beating New Zealand 1 – 0 but there were few hopes that the Ashes could be retained on the 1986–87 tour.Famously described by the journalist Martin Johnson as the team that 'can't bat, can't bowl and can't field' Mike Gatting's men regrouped and swept all before them and dominated the series, winning 2 – 1.