WI vs ENG 2nd ODI: Sir Vivian Richards Stadium Antigua Pitch Report

Debashis Sarangi

Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua [Source: @gavinpearse/X]Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua [Source: @gavinpearse/X]

On Saturday, West Indies will cross swords against England in the second One-Day International of the ongoing three-match series. The highly anticipated clash will be played at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. 

Led by Shai Hope, West Indies had a great start to the series, steamrolling England by eight wickets in the series opener. Bowling first, the hosts rattled the visiting batters, bowling them out for 209 runs. Gudakesh Motie had a memorable outing with the ball, running through the English lineup with a sensational four-wicket haul. 

Meanwhile, England found it incredibly tough to deal with Evin Lewis, who stunned them with a belligerent 69-ball 94. Apart from the swashbuckling opener, Brandon King also contributed crucial 30 runs at the top order. So, moving on to this game, West Indies would be keen to sustain their winning momentum and clinch the series, while the Englishmen would be desperate to bounce back and level the series. 

As the stage is set for a cracking battle, let's see how the surface at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua will behave throughout the contest. 

Sir Vivian Richards Stadium Antigua ODI Ground Stats

Criterion
Data
Matches Played23
Matches won batting first10
Matches won batting second13
Average 1st innings score236
Average 2nd innings score227
Average Runs Per Over5.09


Sir Vivian Richards Stadium Antigua Pitch Report: Batters Or Bowlers, Who Will Be More Successful?

The surface at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua will likely have something for the fast bowlers, especially in the first hour. As it's a day game, the pacers might utilise the track's freshness to trouble the batters with the new ball. 

However, as the game progresses, the batters can use the pace and bounce of the surface to score runs. The spinners will also get some assistance off the pitch. The track's tacky nature might make it difficult for the batters to hit boundaries as the ball gets older. With rain predicted, the toss-winning side might opt to field first. 

Players To Watch Out For At Sir Vivian Richards Stadium

Gudakesh Motie

  • West Indies' in-form spinner Gudakesh Motie scalped four wickets in the first ODI. With the track expected to assist the spinners, he will be a player to watch out for in this match. 

Liam Livingstone

  • England's stand-in captain Liam Livingstone is in sublime form. The batting all-rounder was England's highest scorer in the first game and could once again be a threat to the Windies. 

Evin Lewis

  • West Indies' explosive opener Evin Lewis has showcased prolific form since returning to ODI cricket. The batter has played two back-to-back scintillating knocks and can capitalise on England's bowling attack.