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Kensington Oval, Barbados (Source: @KassNaidoo/X.com)
In the form of a five-match T20I series, the second leg of England’s tour of West Indies 2024 will commence in Bridgetown tonight. Much like the third ODI, Kensington Oval will also be venue to the first two T20Is.
The third consecutive T20I series of five matches between these two oppositions is also going to be the fourth consecutive in the Caribbean. Out of the previous nine bilateral T20I series between them, West Indies have won five times as compared to a couple of English victories. When it comes to playing at home, the hosts lead by 4-1 and would be keen to perform a hat-trick this time round.
Having already won the ODI series 2-1, West Indies would be banking to emerge victorious in their most preferred format. Additionally, the inclusions of highly-rated players namely Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer and Akeal Hossein will only add to their firepower.
England, on the other hand, will continue to take the field with a comparatively inexperienced unit. However, the return of captain Jos Buttler is a boost like no other. Having not played any competitive cricket since ICC T20 World Cup earlier this year, Buttler is all in readiness to kick-start life as a specialist batter. Readers must note the 34-year-old player has not kept wickets in this format only twice in the last decade.
Kensington Oval Bridgetown Barbados T20I Ground Stats
| Criterion | Date |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 33 |
| Matches won batting first | 20 |
| Matches won batting second | 10 |
| Average 1st innings score in last 5 games | 160.2 |
| Average 2nd innings score in last 5 games | 143 |
| Average Runs Per Over | 7.88 |
Kensington Oval Bridgetown Barbados Pitch Report: Batters Likely To Enjoy The Shortest Format
Set to host its first T20I since the T20 World Cup final in June, batters from both the teams are highly likely to make the most of batting-friendly conditions at this ground.
While the new ball might seam around a bit, bowlers will have to be exceedingly astute to restrict batters especially under lights, i.e. the second innings. With a bit of rain prediction around, chasing a total could be a better option in Barbados on Saturday.
Players To Watch Out For At Kensington Oval Bridgetown Barbados
Jos Buttler
Irrespective of how the match unfolds, there is not an iota of doubt around Buttler grabbing all the attention in the first match. With England building towards a new era in both the limited-overs formats, a fully fit stable captain is their most basic necessity.
Andre Russell
Much like Buttler, veteran West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell will also be playing his first international match since the T20 World Cup. That being said, unlike Buttler, Russell participated in Major League Cricket 2024, The Hundred 2024 and the recently concluded season of the Caribbean Premier League in between. One of the most successful modern-day T20 cricketers, Russell’s presence would surely entice the fans across the globe.
Nicholas Pooran
After playing against Russell in the MLC and The Hundred, former West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran shared the dressing room with him in the CPL. Pooran, who also played three T20Is against South Africa in August, is the highest T20 run-scorer in 2024 on the back his 2,251 runs at an average of 45.02 and a strike rate of 160.90 including a century and 15 half-centuries.
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