WI vs ENG 1st T20I Match Preview
The highly anticipated 1st T20I between West Indies and England is set to take place on Sunday (November 10th) at the iconic Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. This match kicks off the five-match T20I series with the first two games at Kensington Oval and the remainder at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet.
West Indies having secured a 2-1 win in the preceding ODI series will look to carry their momentum into the T20I format. Meanwhile England will be boosted by the return of their skipper and explosive batsman Jos Buttler, who is set to make his comeback after a four-month layoff.
WI vs ENG: Match Details
- Match: West Indies (WI) vs England (ENG), 1st T20I, 5-match T20I series 2024
- Venue: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
- Date & Time: November 10th at 1:30 AM IST / November 9th at 4:00 PM Local Time
WI vs ENG: Pitch Report
The surface at Kensington Oval is regarded as one of the best batting tracks in the Caribbean, but it hasn’t consistently produced scores of over 200. The average score at this venue hovers around 160, making it a balanced wicket. Spinners are expected to play a significant role especially in the middle overs, making them key players in this contest.
WI vs ENG: Recent Form
- West Indies: Lost, Lost, Won, Won, Won
- England: NR, Won, Lost, Lost, Won
WI vs ENG: Head-to-Head Stats in T20Is
West Indies and England have faced off in several exciting T20I encounters. Historically, England has had the upper hand but West Indies will look to turn the tables in this home series.
WI vs ENG: Probable Playing XIs
West Indies:
Shai Hope, Brandon King, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Rovman Powell (c), Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph / Matthew Forde.
England:
Jos Buttler (c), Phil Salt (wk), Will Jacks, Jordan Cox / Dan Mousley, Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley.
Injury Updates:
Both teams have a fully fit squad, with no major injury concerns heading into the match. Any updates will be provided as they arise.
WI vs ENG: Top Fantasy Cricket Picks
Top Pick – Batter:
Sherfane Rutherford has been in fine form especially in the ODI format. He will be keen to replicate his recent success in the T20I series. Rutherford has 396 runs in 24 T20Is, with a best score of 68*.
Top Pick – All-Rounder:
Liam Livingstone is a dynamic all-rounder who can clear the boundaries with ease. In 50 T20Is, he has scored 815 runs at an average of 26.29 and has taken 29 wickets, with best figures of 3/17.
Top Pick – Bowler:
Gudakesh Motie has been West Indies’ top T20I wicket-taker this year claiming 19 wickets in 16 matches. He will be a vital part of the bowling attack, with his best T20I figures being 3/22.
Top Pick – Wicketkeeper:
Nicholas Pooran is a destructive force with the bat, capable of turning games around with his aggressive play. In 98 T20Is, he has accumulated 2195 runs at a strike rate of 138.39, with his highest score being 98.
X-Factor:
Phil Salt has a remarkable record in West Indies, having scored 478 runs in 9 T20Is at an impressive average of 68.28 including two centuries. He will be key to England’s batting efforts in this series.
WI vs ENG: Fantasy Suggested Teams
Team 1:
- Wicketkeepers: Jos Buttler, Nicholas Pooran
- Batters: Shai Hope, Phil Salt (c), Sherfane Rutherford (vc)
- All-rounders: Andre Russell, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran
- Bowlers: Adil Rashid, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein
Team 2:
- Wicketkeeper: Nicholas Pooran (c), Phil Salt
- Batters: Brandon King, Rovman Powell, Will Jacks (vc)
- All-rounders: Sherfane Rutherford, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran
- Bowlers: Adil Rashid, Gudakesh Motie, Jofra Archer
Pre-Match Analysis
West Indies will be brimming with confidence after their ODI series victory and are keen to maintain that form in the T20I series. However, they are coming off a series loss to Sri Lanka where they struggled against spin. With the return of key players like Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran and Akeal Hosein, West Indies will be looking to put in a stronger performance this time around.
England, on the other hand, welcomes back Jos Buttler, who will be looking to make an impact after a long layoff. There are discussions around his workload, so he might feature as a specialist batter for parts of the series handing over wicketkeeping duties to Phil Salt. England’s previous T20I series ended in a 1-1 draw against Australia but they will be determined to start this series with a win.
WI vs ENG: Who Will Win?
While both teams boast strong squads England appears to have the edge, especially with the return of Jos Buttler and the presence of key all-rounders like Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran. Playing on home turf could give West Indies a boost. Nevertheless, England are expected to win this match.
