England will look to start the series with a win
England are set to lock horns with West Indies in the first ODI of the three-match series on Sunday, December 3, at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua.
WI vs ENG: Team Previews
England
This series presents a crucial opportunity for redemption following their disappointing performance in the ICC World Cup 2023. The team, led by Jos Buttler, finished in a dismal seventh place in the tournament, securing only three victories out of nine league matches. Despite their underwhelming World Cup campaign, the England and Wales Cricket Board has reposed faith in Buttler's leadership.
However, the team will be grappling with a dearth of experience in the ODI format due to the absence of key players like Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Dawid Malan, and Chris Woakes. Additionally, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, and Mark Wood are rested, and Ben Stokes is out due to injury. Therefore, the series against the West Indies poses a significant challenge for England's relatively inexperienced squad.
West Indies
The West Indies team, under the captaincy of Shai Hope, brings a fresh mix of talent and experience to the upcoming ODI series. The squad includes two uncapped players, Sherfane Rutherford and Matthew Forde, who will be eager to make their mark on the international stage. Notably, the team will be without Jason Holder and Nicholas Pooran, who have opted to focus on shorter formats.
The Caribbean side last played international cricket in August, facing India in a series of ODIs and T20 Internationals. Despite losing the ODI series 2-1, they put up an intense fight and went on to secure a 3-2 victory in the T20I series. This performance has set a positive tone for the team as they prepare to face England.
WI vs ENG: Match Details & Live Streaming
| Date | December 3, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. |
| Time | 7:30 PM (IST) |
| Live Streaming | FanCode App |
WI vs ENG: Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua Pitch Report
The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is known for its batsman-friendly pitch, which tends to favour the batsmen more as the game progresses. Fast bowlers can expect some assistance in the initial overs, but the pitch generally becomes more conducive to batting over time.
While fast bowlers have historically taken more wickets on this pitch, spinners can also play a crucial role, especially in the second innings, as the pitch slows down. In the 20 ODIs played at this venue, the record is evenly split between teams batting first and chasing, with each side winning ten matches.
The average first innings score at this ground is 239, and the captain winning the toss will likely field first, considering the pitch report and historical trend.
WI vs ENG: Probable Playing XIs
West Indies: Shai Hope (c & wk), Brandon King, Alick Athanaze, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Yannic Cariah, Matthew Forde, Alzarri Joseph, Oshane Thomas
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c &wk), Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed
WI vs ENG: Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
| Roles | Players |
|---|---|
| Wicket-keepers | Jos Buttler, Shai Hope |
| Batters | Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett |
| All-Rounders | Sam Curran, Will Jacks |
| Bowlers | Alzarri Joseph, Gus Atkinson, Romario Shepherd |
| Captain | Shai Hope |
| Vice-captain | Ben Duckett |
WI vs ENG: Prediction
Considering the team composition and experience, England are the favourites to win this contest.
 "Jatin")
