This would be a bet that is worth it. With disciplined bowlers like Archer likely to open for England, a dot ball is probable as they look to contain the West Indies batters from the start. The West Indies also have their own arsenal of young, promising fast bowlers
With aggressive openers like Salt and Jacks for England or King and Lewis for West Indies, the likelihood of a boundary early is high. Fast starts are expected, especially with field restrictions in place. Both sets of opening batters will fancy their chances of going over the inner ring in the first over.
England to win the match 1.80
England enters as favourites due to their depth in both batting and bowling. Their varied attack with pace from Archer and spin from Rashid is well-suited to counter West Indies’ aggressive batters. They have backed their younger generation of batters for this ODI series.
However, West Indies’ familiarity with the home conditions and power-hitters like Rutherford and King make them a competitive threat. They also have Shai Hope in their ranks. He is one of the world’s most consistent ODI run-scorers over the past five to ten years. His lower strike rate in 50-over cricket compared to most has been a general talking point, but he seems to be addressing that with recent showings in the Caribbean Premier League.
You can expect an exciting ODI series ahead. These teams have had some tight contests in the recent past, particularly in the white-ball formats. A series at home for the West Indies could even the contest. In the last five matches, West Indies have won three and England have won twice.
The West Indies won the previous ODI series against England. The ODI series before that was drawn. England enjoyed six consecutive ODI series victories against the Caribbean team between 2009 and 2017.
The first ODI of the series between the West Indies and England on Thursday, 31 October 2024 is anticipated to be available to Indian fans on the FanCode app for the live stream.
The West Indies achieved mixed results against Sri Lanka in their previous ODI series. They managed a win in their final game of the series, but suffered a loss in the series overall.
The West Indies squad is led by Shai Hope, a batter whose stability and experience provide a solid anchor in the top-order batting. The wicketkeeper-batter was the player of the series against England previously with 192 runs in the three-match series.
Known for his consistency, Hope will be key in laying a foundation, particularly if openers Brandon King and Evin Lewis can give the team a flying start. Both King and Lewis are naturally aggressive and possess the skills to exploit fielding restrictions in the powerplay.
They will be key in setting an early tone against England’s pace attack. Brandon King has shown impressive flair in recent ODI matches, while Lewis’ clean striking can keep the run rate brisk, building momentum for the middle-order to capitalise on. Lewis, in particular, hit an unbeaten century against Sri Lanka in the third ODI.
Adding to the firepower, Sherfane Rutherford’s role as a late-order power-hitter makes him a finisher to watch. His ability to clear boundaries and adapt quickly to varying match situations adds depth to the West Indies’ batting lineup.
In the all-rounder department, Roston Chase and Matthew Forde offer both depth and flexibility. Chase brings experience and versatility, especially on pitches that could favour his steady off-spin. His skills with the ball allow him to control the game in the middle overs, adding a valuable option to Hope’s bowling arsenal.
Matthew Forde, a younger talent, brings energy and capability with both bat and ball. He will be crucial in contributing with tight overs and timely lower-order runs which could be crucial in close encounters.
Gudakesh Motie is expected to be a significant figure in the West Indies’ bowling lineup, particularly if the pitch at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium takes turn as anticipated. His left-arm spin complements Chase’s off-spin to create a balanced spin attack that could trouble England’s middle-order.
Alzarri Joseph, the leader of the pace attack, will be equally crucial with his ability to swing the new ball at pace. Known for his bounce and aggression, Joseph is expected to make early breakthroughs.
England were put to the test at home against Australia in a tight series loss. That ODI series showed that the team has progressed in the ODI format, but still have a bit of work ahead of them to challenge the best in the world. They have another opportunity here to test their ODI bench strength.
For England, Phil Salt and Will Jacks at the top of the batting order are the ones to watch for an aggressive start. Both players have shown fearlessness against pace and spin alike and they’ll be looking to maximise their runs in the powerplay.
Salt, in particular, has been a dependable opener with his natural attacking instincts. Jacks’ adaptability and skillset allow him to play according to the game’s needs, making him an invaluable batter in this format.
In the middle-order, England boasts the big-hitting Liam Livingstone. His ability to clear the boundary and bowl useful overs of both forms of spin gives England flexibility in both batting and bowling. The new England skipper has 170 runs and six wickets in his last six ODIs.
Jacob Bethell, another all-rounder, has been a promising addition with his left-arm spin and aggressive batting approach. The youngster gives England an additional option for middle-overs control on a pitch that might wear down through the game.
England’s pace attack will be spearheaded by Jofra Archer. Since returning from injury, his speed and accuracy have made him a formidable force in ODIs. Archer’s effectiveness in both the opening and death overs is well-documented. He’ll be expected to lead the attack with his wicket-taking abilities and variations.
Reece Topley, a tall left-arm seamer, brings variety and is known for his skillful bowling. Especially in the death overs, his accuracy is a major asset. Adil Rashid rounds out England’s bowling unit with his expert partnership-breaking leg-spin. Rashid’s experience and guile make him a difficult bowler to score off on pitches that aid turn. He has eight wickets in his last seven ODIs.
The team winning the toss might choose to bowl first. The last five head-to-head games between West Indies and England have been won by the side chasing. That may be the formula for another ODI win.
The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium generally offers a balanced wicket, aiding seamers early and spinners as the game progresses. Batters may find scoring easier in the initial overs, with field restrictions aiding aggressive shots. As the game moves into the middle overs, spinners like Rashid and Motie could play pivotal roles in controlling the pace of play. The game will be played as a day/night game so dew could be a factor to contend with for the team bowling second.
The weather is not promising for Thursday in Antigua. There is a 69 percent chance of rain predicted for matchday. Rain may be another factor to consider at the toss and throughout the game. Temperatures are predicted to be hot and humid too.
England’s lineup appears balanced with strong bowling options and depth in talent for their batting stocks. Liam Livingstone is a new captain to the English ODI outfit. He will be tested against quality opposition away from home, but expect him to be a perfect fit for England’s attacking brand of limited-overs cricket.
The visitors could be placed as the slight favourites because of their wealth of young white-ball talent available to them.
Bet on England to win.
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