England are about to discover the true impact of their deeply frustrating draw in Antigua. Ahead of the climax to the Third Test, and with Andrew Strauss's men on course to win, Steve Harmison branded it "the biggest day of our winter.".

"If we can cross the finishing line it will give us so much confidence for the rest of the series," said the fast bowler before West Indies began the final day at the Recreation Ground. "It could be phenomenal for us."

In the end, it was agony for England as the home side clung on to draw with their last two batsmen, Daren Powell and Fidel Edwards, surviving 10 overs before bad light halted play.

England must get back on track in the Fourth Test, which starts in Barbados tomorrow, without key all-rounder Andrew Flintoff (hip) and No1 wicket-keeper Matt Prior (paternity leave) while Graeme Swann, who has made himself the team's first choice spinner, is battling an elbow injury.

If all that were not enough, Harmison had a scan on a stiff back yesterday but was given the all clear and looked sharp enough in the nets.

Bearing in mind they have still not won an international match this winter - either in India or the Caribbean - there's no doubt they are long overdue a complete performance.

At least Swann is optimistic he will make the starting line-up, despite knowing that surgery on his right elbow is only being delayed.

The off-spinner, who out-bowled Monty Panesar in India before Christmas and then captured eight wickets after taking his place in Antigua, has undergone intensive physiotherapy since an old injury re-surfaced during the Third Test.

"It is a long-term problem which I have had for the last two or three years," said Swann, who underwent an operation in 2006. "It is bone that has fragmented off and floats around. It will need another operation at some stage but I just don't know when."

With England set to play only four front-line bowlers in Flintoff's absence, the last thing they need is for one of them to break down during the Test. And Strauss will want as much reassurance as he can get, from the squad's medics as well as Swann himself, before committing to the 29-year-old.

"I just woke up on the fourth morning in Antigua and couldn't move my arm," said Swann. "All kinds of things cause it to flare up. I did it once carrying a basket in Tesco's, and it has happened diving in the field.

"The fourth evening was almost unbearable, it was absolutely killing me, but then the fifth day - I had so much physio and a couple of injections - it felt great again."

While England may still be thinking about what might have been in Antigua, Pakistan's Younis Khan is today ruing a missed shot at personal glory.

The skipper began the final morning of his country's First Test against Sri Lanka in Karachi on 306, needing another 95 runs to beat Brian Lara's word record score of 400 not out. But he added only seven before being bowled by paceman Dilhara Fernando for 313.