Calypso cricketers to Curtly's chin music… as England fly out to the Caribbean, we celebrate their previous encounters with West Indies in our picture special

Jubilation for Ron Headley, Clive Lloyd and Garry Sobers as West Indies win the first Test of the 1973 series at The Oval. They would take the series 2-0, with one match drawn

Desmond Haynes and Eldine Baptiste make sure all their kit is in order ahead of a tour match at Colwyn Bay in 1984. A Windies team at the peak of their powers would win the Test series 5-0

England's Hugh Morris takes evasive action facing a Curtly Ambrose bouncer in 1991

All manner of musical instruments on display on the terraces at Old Trafford in 1984

Fans of both England and West Indies enjoy the 1976 Test match at Headingley, which the tourists won by 55 runs en route to a 3-0 series win

England's (left to right) Robin Smith, Graham Gooch, Allan Lamb and Phil DeFreitas celebrate their 115-run victory over West Indies in the 1991 first Test at Headingley

Inside the Old Trafford dressing room after the 1976 third Test, which the West Indies won by a whopping 425 runs

Gordon Greenidge on top of the Windies' team bus trying to fix the aerial in 1984

England prepare to jet off to the Caribbean for their 1974 tour, which ended in a 1-1 draw

Colin Cowdrey is greeted by workers at Heathrow returning home from the Windies in 1968

1976 again and a packed crowd in front of the Headingley scoreboard watch the Windies win

Every vantage point is taken by a huge West Indian following at The Oval back in 1973

A big cricketing rivalry begins in 1928 when West Indies toured England to play Test matches for the first time. Pictured are George Challinor and Clifford Roach at Old Trafford

Limbering up! The West Indian players put through their paces at The Oval in 1991

Two West Indian legends, Brian Lara and Viv Richards, in the Lord's nets in 1995