England have shown themselves to be a good T20I side rather than a great one, despite having all the ingredients the recipe calls for and they face a stiff test in the form of a newly confident Windies camp.
A Test series win was followed up by a tied ODI series, where the West Indies ran World Cup favourites England to the wire. New coach, Richard Pybus seems to have the Midas touch, though the basis for the current upturn was the work of his predecessor Stuart Law.
West Indies v England | Tuesday, 5 March | Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, St Lucia | 22:00
To Win Match
West Indies 72/100
Tie 35/1
England 23/20
West Indies
The West Indies have given the reins of the T20I team to ODI and Test skipper Jason Holder in a bid to boost their chances in the World Cup. The Windies management feel that keeping the ODI unit together through the T20I series will allow them to gel better.
We were given a preview of shorter format cricket when the fifth ODI was abbreviated by rain. The home side came out on top, albeit in somewhat fortuitous cicrcumstances.
The Windies team should be built around Andre Russell, Darren Bravo and Chris Gayle, who have bags of experience on the Twenty20 circuit – and are all also available for selection in ODI cricket.
Kieron Pollard’s exile looks set to continue, as the team focuses on players who are in the ODI plans.
England
The England and Wales Cricket Board have engaged in their own form of team management ahead of the World Cup, with Moeen Ali sent home to rest ahead of his stint in the Indian Premier League. The exciting breakthrough star of 2018 for England, Sam Curran, has replaced Moeen.
England haven’t quite found that formula for success in the T20I format. It doesn’t help that bilateral T20Is are simply a money-spinning afterthought – and their team looks like it could struggle against a Windies side that is getting its swagger back.
Apart from Curran, England have also drafted in a trio of so-called ‘T20I specialists’ in wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings, all-rounder Chris Jordan and Test reject Dawid Malan, who has returned to favour in the shortest format after falling from grace in the longer.
England seem to have all the pieces of the puzzle for short-format success, but they haven’t been able to put it together when the lights are on. The issues have primarily been in pacing their innings – and adapting to conditions.
Verdict: West Indies 72/100
Momentum may or may not be a real thing when it comes to sporting series, but cricket is definitely a confidence game – and the hosts have it in spades of late.
