England's Twenty20 tour of Barbados has begun with a disappointing nine-wicket loss to the West Indies after the tourists were bundled out for just 103.
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The hosts reached the meagre target with 17 balls to spare.
After being asked to bat first on a tricky pitch with inconsistent bounce, England lurched to 3-10 and then 7-49 as their Ashes batting woes transferred to the Caribbean at the outset of their white-ball five-match series.
Lower-order batters Chris Jordan and Adil Rashid spared England's blushes as they avoided a new record-low T20 total but the duo's efforts barely papered over the cracks, with the West Indies untroubled in their pursuit.
Jordan top-scored for England with 28 from 23 balls and was one of only four batters to make double figures in a much-changed line-up, without the likes of Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes after their Ashes exertions.
Sam Billings was one of only five survivors from the side that lost to New Zealand in the T20 World Cup semi-final in November, jetting out to Bridgetown from Hobart where he had made his Test debut just days earlier.
England's bowlers were efficient if non-threatening -- with Brandon King's unbeaten 52 from 49 deliveries breaking the back of the chase -- but they were given precious little to work with after a dreadful start for their batters.
Jason Holder was the chief destroyer with the ball, taking 4-7 off 3.4 overs -- including the final two England wickets in the 20th over.
England will have little time to lick their wounds, with the next match at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on Sunday.
Australian Associated Press
