West Indies will arrive at Lord's for the first Investec Test this week nursing more than bruised pride from their 10-wicket hammering by England Lions in Northampton.
The well-being of pace bowlers Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul is of more concern to coach Ottis Gibson than another patchy display from his team.
In the first worthwhile match action this summer for the tourists, after the near washout against Sussex at Hove last week, they once again flattered to deceive.
Just as in the 2-0 home Test series defeat against Australia, they showed flashes of potential but could not sustain their performance.
A second first-class hundred for opener Kieran Powell on day three not only helped the Windies wipe out a mammoth first-innings deficit and set the Lions a target of 197 to win; it also provided some hope that there may be some substance in their top six, aside from Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Yet on the final morning, when they needed to keep the Lions waiting just a little to sow some doubts, the West Indies' last two wickets fell for only 13 runs in barely half an hour.
The Lions, on the back of Joe Root's second first-class hundred - an unbeaten 115 - and Michael Carberry's 72 not out, then sauntered to victory with more than a session to spare.
It did not help the West Indies that Roach, hit on his right hand by Stuart Meaker when batting first thing but more importantly troubled by a twisted ankle on his left foot, was unable to bowl - and Rampaul restricted to just four overs by a stiff neck.
Gibson said: "Kemar Roach has twisted his left foot, and it was a precaution as much as anything that he didn't bowl.
"Ravi Rampaul woke up with a stiff neck [on Sunday morning]."
The absence of either against England at Lord's will be a major blow to the Windies.
"We have to be a little bit careful with Lord's in mind," added Gibson.
"It is a bit of a disappointment they [the seamers] have not bowled much.
"But we are here to play Test matches and we hope it will be all right.
"We have just had a very tough series in the Caribbean, and they bowled a lot of balls there - especially Kemar Roach.
"In England it is a matter of getting used to the conditions rather than bowling a lot of balls - and you can get used to the cold without bowling."
