a new, permanent job with trinidad leaseholds allowed constantine to devote more time to cricket. constantine realised that to succeed as a professional cricketer, he needed to improve; his bowling lacked true speed and, when batting, he was often dismissed playing shots that were too adventurous. after his relative failure in 1926, he increased his level of practice, improved his fitness and trained to become a slip fielder to conserve his energies for genuine fast bowling. in the trial matches before the 1928 tour of england, constantine secured his place on the tour by taking five for 32 and scoring 63. he left behind his wife norma, whom he had married in 1927, and his newly-born daughter.