Match particulars
West Indies vs England
June 19, St Lucia, 8.30pm native time
Massive image:
England and West Indies are every competing for an unprecedented third T20 World Cup title, and the occasions on the Daren Sammy Cricket Floor in Beausejour – a venue named in honour of the person who delivered the hosts these first two titles – might go a way in the direction of confirming the readiness, or in any other case, of those two very actual contenders for the crown.
Fairly other than the ability of their current victories, the vary of West Indies’ match-winners has propelled them firmly into the title combine. From Andre Russell’s 71 from 29 balls in opposition to Australia in Perth, to Brandon King’s 79 from 45 in opposition to South Africa in Jamaica, by way of Roston Chase and Johnson Charles, and all over to Sherfane Rutherford’s innings-salvaging 68 not out in opposition to New Zealand and Nicholas Pooran’s ballistic 98 from 53 balls in opposition to Afghanistan, they’ve repeatedly showcased a batting line-up with full religion in one another’s attributes, and a capability to face up when known as upon.
Type information
West Indies: WWWWW (final 5 accomplished T20Is, most up-to-date first)
England: WWLWW
Within the highlight – Phil Salt and Gudakesh Motie
Go arduous or go house. That has been Phil Salt‘s mantra all through his T20 profession, and proper now, his unrelenting strategy on the high of England’s order has by no means been extra useful. After flitting across the periphery for a number of seasons, Salt’s worldwide breakthrough got here in opposition to this identical West Indies crew again in December, when his back-to-back centuries in Grenada and Trinidad carried the assault again to the world’s most aggressive batting line-up, and reminded England of the fearlessness that they’d so clearly mislaid of their 50-over World Cup defence. Given the truncated nature of their 20-over marketing campaign to this point, it is arduous to evaluate precisely how the middle-order is monitoring, which implies that impetus on the high might be all of the extra essential as they search their first main scalp of the marketing campaign.
Staff information
Not a whole lot of considerations for West Indies after a dominant show in opposition to Afghanistan, though they do have a handful of choice conundrums. Roston Chase and Shai Hope are competing for a similar middle-order berth, whereas Romario Shepherd missed the final match for paternity depart, however is due again with the squad in good time for the match. He might slot again in forward of Obed McCoy.
West Indies (attainable): 1 Brandon King, 2 Johnson Charles, 3 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 4 Shai Hope/Roston Chase, 5 Rovman Powell (capt), 6 Andre Russell, 7 Sherfane Rutherford, 8 Akeal Hosein, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Gudakesh Motie, 11 Obed McCoy/Romario Shepherd.
England combined it up a contact after the showers in Antigua had lowered their Namibia match to 11 overs, with Sam Curran and Chris Jordan each included to supply a wider vary of death-bowling choices. Each might hold their locations, with Jordan’s demise bowling and further batting giving him an edge over Mark Wooden. Will Jacks additionally appears more likely to come again into the XI, doubtlessly down the order at No. 6, with Liam Livingstone lacking coaching because of a illness bug – however having recovered from the facet niggle he suffered in opposition to Namibia.
England (attainable): 1 Phil Salt, 2 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 3 Jonny Bairstow, 4 Harry Brook, 5 Moeen Ali, 6 Will Jacks, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Mark Wooden/Chris Jordan, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Reece Topley
Pitch and circumstances
This might be one other outing for the belter of a floor on which West Indies racked up 218 for five in opposition to Afghanistan on Monday, so a high-scoring contest is in prospect. The scale are a contact lop-sided, 63 metres on one sq. boundary, in comparison with 72 metres on the opposite, however the prevailing wind tends to blow to the longer facet, so the massive hitters can count on some bang for his or her buck.
Stats and trivia
Quotes
“It is good that we’re beginning right here and really we play one sport on it, earlier than the beginning of the Tremendous Eight. We’re slightly bit accustomed to the bounce and accustomed the wicket. Hopefully that will swimsuit us slightly bit greater than the Englishmen.”
West Indies captain Rovman Powell desires his crew to make use of getting already performed on Wednesday’s strip
“I feel perhaps the West Indies can be hopefully making an attempt to get their very own again for our followers that had been so unbelievableā¦ they’re going to attempt to rally them and create this cauldron of an environment tomorrow night time. It is going to be unbelievable.”
Reece Topley predicts sturdy St Lucian assist after England’s followers outnumbered the locals in December’s T20I sequence
Andrew Miller is UK editor of ESPNcricinfo. @miller_cricket