Apart from one guest appearance for Barbados in a friendly match early in 1939, Constantine did not play first-class cricket after 1935 until the West Indies toured England in 1939.
Constantine had deliberately not signed a league contract in 1939, to be available for the tour.
However, he was unhappy with the playing strength of the touring team and the £600 he was offered in wages.
He believed that the captain, Rolph Grant (younger brother of Jackie), was unqualified for the job and had been appointed only because he was white.
Constantine captained the side in one match, but was reprimanded by the West Indies board for not pursuing a win.
The West Indies lost the three-match Test series 1–0 against a very strong England side, although critics judged the overall playing record of the team to be good.
In the three Tests, Constantine scored 110 runs at 27.50 and took 11 wickets at 29.81, including five for 75 in the final Test.

By this time Constantine bowled generally at medium pace from a short run-up.
To compensate for his reduced pace he mixed up his bowling style, spinning the ball and bowling at speeds varying from slow to very fast.
He bowled more overs than any other member of the team, and was the side's leading wicket-taker with 103 wickets in the season.
His bowling average of 17.77 placed him first in the team's bowling averages and seventh in the English national averages.
With the bat, Constantine scored 614 runs at 21.17; Preston wrote that Constantine "often electrified onlookers with his almost impudent zest for runs".
His highest innings came in the final Test match when he scored 79 in an hour and hit 11 fours.
Wisden commented: "Constantine, in the mood suggesting his work in Saturday afternoon League cricket, brought a welcome air of gaiety to the Test arena.
He revolutionised all the recognised features of cricket and, surpass[ed] Bradman in his amazing stroke play."
For his all-round performances during the season he was chosen as one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year.

The third Test match, after which the tour was abandoned owing to the imminent outbreak of the Second World War, was Constantine's last.
In 18 Test matches between 1928 and 1939 he scored 635 runs at an average of 19.24, took 58 wickets at 30.10 and held 28 catches.
He played one more first-class match when, in 1945, he captained a team representing the "Dominions" against England at Lord's.
The match was narrowly won by the Dominions.
Constantine, in the second innings, shared a partnership of 117 in 45 minutes with Keith Miller.
He bowled very little, but ran out a batsman at a key point in the final innings.
In all first-class cricket, Constantine scored 4,475 runs at 24.05 and took 439 wickets at 20.48.
Apart from one guest appearance for Barbados in a friendly match early in 1939, Constantine did not play first-class cricket after 1935 until the West Indies toured England in 1939. Constantine had deliberately not signed a league contract in 1939, to be available for the tour. However, he was unhappy with the playing strength of the touring team and the £600 he was offered in wages. He believed that the captain, Rolph Grant (younger brother of Jackie), was unqualified for the job and had been appointed only because he was white. Constantine captained the side in one match, but was reprimanded by the West Indies board for not pursuing a win. The West Indies lost the three-match Test series 1–0 against a very strong England side, although critics judged the overall playing record of the team to be good. In the three Tests, Constantine scored 110 runs at 27.50 and took 11 wickets at 29.81, including five for 75 in the final Test.
By this time Constantine bowled generally at medium pace from a short run-up. To compensate for his reduced pace he mixed up his bowling style, spinning the ball and bowling at speeds varying from slow to very fast. He bowled more overs than any other member of the team, and was the side's leading wicket-taker with 103 wickets in the season. His bowling average of 17.77 placed him first in the team's bowling averages and seventh in the English national averages. With the bat, Constantine scored 614 runs at 21.17; Preston wrote that Constantine "often electrified onlookers with his almost impudent zest for runs". His highest innings came in the final Test match when he scored 79 in an hour and hit 11 fours. Wisden commented: "Constantine, in the mood suggesting his work in Saturday afternoon League cricket, brought a welcome air of gaiety to the Test arena. He revolutionised all the recognised features of cricket and, surpass[ed] Bradman in his amazing stroke play." For his all-round performances during the season he was chosen as one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year.
The third Test match, after which the tour was abandoned owing to the imminent outbreak of the Second World War, was Constantine's last. In 18 Test matches between 1928 and 1939 he scored 635 runs at an average of 19.24, took 58 wickets at 30.10 and held 28 catches. He played one more first-class match when, in 1945, he captained a team representing the "Dominions" against England at Lord's. The match was narrowly won by the Dominions. Constantine, in the second innings, shared a partnership of 117 in 45 minutes with Keith Miller. He bowled very little, but ran out a batsman at a key point in the final innings. In all first-class cricket, Constantine scored 4,475 runs at 24.05 and took 439 wickets at 20.48.
Learie Constantine