West Indies vs. England: Winners and Losers from 3rd Test

The third Test in Barbados was short and sweet—provided you're a West Indies player or supporter.

The hosts made sure the series with England finished level at 1-1 with a five-wicket win at the famous Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.

In the end, the game only lasted three days, with West Indies chasing down a target of 192 late on Sunday evening.

England had actually held a first-innings lead of 68 but let the momentum slip away with an abject batting display. They were bowled out for 123, in the process lasting just 42.1 overs at the crease.

Now, with the match coming to an earlier-than-expected conclusion, we pick out those who played a starring role and those who shouldn't have bothered turning up.

West Indies coach Phil Simmons should be proud of his players after completing his first series in charge.

But for a bad first session on the final day of the second Test in Grenada, they could well have ended up lifting the Wisden Trophy at the conclusion of the three matches.

They defied their opponents on the final day to survive for a draw in the first Test in Antigua, then battled back from behind to win in Barbados.

It is still a far cry from the glory days for cricket in the Caribbean, but there are promising signs for the future.

Jermaine Blackwood (more on him to come) finished up as his side's leading run scorer, while he was also one of four West Indians to hit a century during the series.

They will hope to continue to progress when they welcome Australia for a two-Test series in June.

Peter Moores was not coach of England the last time they toured the West Indies in 2009—he had actually been sacked from his post just before the trip.

This time he did manage to make it to the Caribbean, though for how much longer he lasts in the job second time around remains to be seen.

Incoming England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves said before the tour, per BBC Radio Leeds, that the visitors should triumph, adding: "If we don't win, I can tell you now there will be some enquiries of why we haven't."

Mr Graves will begin his reign by wondering just how West Indies were able to grab a 1-1 series draw.

Moores could find himself on the hot seat again, with his cause not helped by England's early exit from the Cricket World Cup earlier in the year.

Jermaine Blackwood is clearly a talent West Indies must build around for the long-term future.

In the three matches, he managed 311 runs at an average of 77.75. He scored a hundred in the opening Test then hit back-to-back half-centuries in the series finale.

His second-innings knock of 47 not out in Barbados helped get the hosts over the line, as well as seeing him named Man of the Match.

However, Blackwood has had his moments to forget in the series too.

He will have frustrated West Indies' management team with the manner of some of his dismissals, but his aggressive approach should be encouraged, not criticised.

The experienced duo of Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell combined to make all of nine runs in four innings in Barbados.

Both Warwickshire right-handers recorded ducks in England's first innings, with Bell then going on to complete a pair with another failure second time around.

Trott did at least contribute something to his team's cause, but he finished the series with a disappointing final total of 72 runs.

The mode of his dismissal in the first innings of the last Test, caught out after failing to cope with a well-aimed short ball from Shannon Gabriel, was difficult to watch.

Having been recalled to the XI as an opener for the tour, Trott missed the chance to convince the selectors he is the man to be Alastair Cook's long-term opening partner.

While he seems unlikely to hold onto his place, Warwickshire team-mate Bell will remain in the middle order.

However, England will need more from him during the home series' against New Zealand and Australia.

It may seem odd that England's captain should be deemed a winner at the end of the Test, considering his team were actually beaten in Barbados.

However, Alastair Cook did enjoy a personal triumph during the match.

The left-handed batsman made 105 on the opening day, in the process recording his first Test century since May 2013.

It was a timely knock for Cook, particularly after his lack of runs in one-day cricket had seen him lose the captaincy right before the Cricket World Cup.

He finished up the series in the Caribbean with 268 runs from six innings, with a healthy average of 53.60.

Now the Essex opener at least doesn't have to answer too many questions about his own form, particularly with an Ashes series looming large on the horizon.

James Anderson claimed seven wickets in a losing cause in Barbados, taking his final series tally to 17.

It was a tour that saw him also enjoy a historical moment, as during the first Test he moved past Sir Ian Botham to become England's leading wicket-taker in the longest format.

The problem is, however, that he simply cannot do it all on his own.

Stuart Broad picked up 10 wickets, though four of those came in one innings, while Chris Jordan ended the tour with six wickets in 104 overs of work.

Ben Stokes flattered to deceive, his final strike-rate for the series was 128, and although Moeen Ali's figures were respectable enough (his six wickets came at an average of 34.66), his bowling seemed to take a backward step following his heroics at home to India last summer.

England must quickly find the right balance to their attack, particularly with tougher battles ahead.

To that extent, they may regret not trying out other options during the trip.

The uncapped duo of leg-spinner Adil Rashid and paceman Mark Wood were both overlooked throughout, along with experienced seamer Liam Plunkett.

What did you make of the third Test? And what are the ramifications for both sides looking ahead to the future? Have your say via the comments section.