West Indies vs England ODI Series Overview

The West Indies are gearing up to host England in a three-match ODI and five-match T20I series. They recently lost to Sri Lanka 2-1 in both formats. Now, they are set to host England. The first ODI is on November 1 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, starting at 11:30 p.m. England’s captain, Jos Buttler, will miss the series due to an earlier calf injury. Liam Livingstone will step in as captain.

West Indies vs England: Recent Performances

In their most recent ODI, the West Indies took on Sri Lanka, limiting them to 156 runs with three wickets down before rain intervened, altering the target. The West Indies managed to chase the revised 195-run target with six balls to spare, winning by eight wickets. Evin Lewis stole the spotlight, hitting a speedy century in just 61 balls and teaming up with Sherfane Rutherford for a solid 88-run partnership.

England’s last ODI series was against Australia in September, where they lost 3-0. In the final match, England posted 309 runs, led by Ben Duckett’s century and a fast 72 from Harry Brook. Australia comfortably chased down the target, winning by 49 runs using the Duckworth-Lewis method.

When England last faced the West Indies in 2023 in Bridgetown, England scored 209 runs, with Duckett leading the board with 71. However, the West Indies chased a revised target of 191 runs in 31.4 overs, with Romario Shepherd adding 41 runs.

Aside from Buttler, England will also be without their top run-scorer this year, Harry Brook. To cover for them, Jordan Cox and Rehan Ahmed have been brought in as replacements.

West Indies vs England ODI: Team Previews

West Indies Team Preview:

Returning to Antigua after their recent series against Sri Lanka, the West Indies will have a tough challenge ahead. The West Indies Cricket Board hasn’t officially confirmed the squad yet, but the lineup is likely to remain similar. Brandon King is expected to open with Evin Lewis, who was outstanding in the last Sri Lanka series with a century. Lewis also has a strong track record against England, having scored 231 runs in 7 innings, including a memorable 176 in 2017.

Shai Hope will bat at number three. He has scored 5,209 runs in 127 ODIs at an average of 49.14. This year, however, he’s had a slower start, with just 77 runs in six games. The middle order will include Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, and Romario Shepherd. Rutherford has been in excellent form, scoring 276 runs in six ODIs at an average of 69. Alzarri Joseph will spearhead the bowling, backed by Jayden Seales, Hayden Walsh, and Gudakesh Motie. Joseph has 13 wickets in six games against England, while Motie leads this year’s wicket tally for the team, with eight wickets at a 4.23 economy rate.

Key Players for West Indies: Sherfane Rutherford, Evin Lewis, Alzarri Joseph.

Predicted XI: Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (captain & wicketkeeper), Sherfane Rutherford, Jewel Andrew, Roston Chase, Gudakesh Motie, Matthew Forde, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales.

England Team Preview

With Jos Buttler and Harry Brook absent, England will count on Ben Duckett and Phill Salt to start their innings. Duckett has been in good form, scoring 305 runs across five ODIs this year with a strike rate of 109.71. Salt, however, has struggled, with only 96 runs in five innings. Will Jacks, who has scored 156 runs this year at a strike rate of 99.36, will likely come in at number three and also offer his bowling skills.

Liam Livingstone is set to play a key role in the middle order. He has scored 170 runs in his last eight ODIs with a strike rate of 119.71. He’ll join forces with Sam Curran, who contributes with both bat and ball. Curran has three wickets and 50 runs against the West Indies. Jordan Cox, who made his T20I debut last month, is set to play his first ODI in the Caribbean.

Leading the bowling will be Reece Topley, with support from Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton. Topley has taken 13 wickets in his last nine ODIs, and Archer, working to regain form, has picked up three wickets in his recent ODIs. Adil Rashid will handle spin duties as England’s top wicket-taker from last year, with 12 wickets in nine games. Rising talent Jafer Chohan, who recently took 17 wickets in 10 games this year despite playing with a broken thumb, might also make an appearance.

Key Players for England: Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid.

Predicted XI: Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Phill Salt, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Jordan Cox, Reece Topley, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood.

West Indies vs England: Conditions and Strategy

Weather and Pitch:
On match day, the weather is expected to be sunny, with temperatures ranging from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. A light westerly breeze will blow at 10-15 km/h. The pitch at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is known for supporting batsmen, offering good pace and bounce for high scores. As the game goes on, the pitch may wear down, potentially benefiting spinners in the later stages. The hot and humid conditions in Antigua could speed up this change.

Pitch History and Toss Recommendation:
Out of the 37 ODIs played at this venue, teams batting second have had the upper hand, with 19 wins. The average first-innings score is around 229 runs, so winning the toss and opting to bowl first could be advantageous.

Also read: “David Warner Open to Test Cricket Comeback for Australia Against India.”