With their disastrous World Cup campaign firmly in the rear-view mirror, England are now put to the test again as they travel to the West Indies for a limited tour.
The West Indies failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup, but this gives England a chance to bounce back after crashing out of the tournament with one win in their first six matches.
The England team will face the home side in three one-day internationals in December and then five Twenty20 internationals.
It will be the first time in more than four years that England have played the West Indies in ODIs and they will be hoping for a better performance than was produced during a ‘difficult’ time in India.
When is it?
England’s limited-overs tour of the West Indies runs from Sunday, December 3 to Thursday, December 21. There are no warm-up matches, so England will go straight into action against the hosts.
What is the full match list and schedule?
ODI series
All games start at 2:00 PM GMT
1st ODIDecember 3 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
2nd ODIDecember 6 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
3rd ODIDecember 9 at Kensington Oval, Barbados
T20 series
All matches are day/night and start at 8pm GMT
1st T20I: December 12 at Kensington Oval, Barbados
2nd T20I: December 14 at the National Cricket Stadium, Grenada
3rd T20I: December 16 at the National Cricket Stadium, Grenada
4th T20I: December 19 at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago
5th T20I: December 21 at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago
What are the latest results between the two teams?
It has been a long time since the two sides have faced each other in a one-day international, but results have been mixed in both formats: 2-2 in ODIs and 3-2 against West Indies in T20Is.
ODIs
February 22, 2019: West Indies won by 26 runs
February 27, 2019: England won by 29 runs
March 2, 2019: West Indies win by seven wickets
June 14, 2019: England win by eight wickets
T20Is
January 22, 2022: West Indies won by nine wickets
January 23, 2022: England won by one point
January 26, 2022: West Indies won by 20 runs
January 29, 2022: England won by 34 runs
January 30, 2022: West Indies won by 17 runs
How do I watch on TV?
The English tour of the Caribbean is shown by TNT Sports. The company, which bought BT Sport earlier this year, will continue to retain the rights to matches played in the West Indies and Australia. The matches can also be streamed live on Discovery+ for a subscription of €29.99 per month.
What’s the latest news?
By Tim Wigmore
Ben Duckett has said it has been “difficult” watching England’s torrid World Cup campaign as he looks to play a major role in “a fresh start” for the one-day international side.
Duckett was not involved in the World Cup, but watched all England matches.
“It was hard to watch at times and I see friends going out there and wrestling,” he said. “It was really difficult. For me personally, I’ve had six weeks to catch my breath – it’s been a big twelve months for me – and it can be quite refreshing. I feel like going now.”
Duckett scored 107 not out, his first one-day international century, in England’s last ODI against Ireland in September. While opening in the Test squad, Duckett batted at number four during the matches against Ireland and will remain in that position against the West Indies when the three-match ODI series begins in Antigua on Sunday.
Despite England’s dire World Cup situation, Duckett said there has been no change in messaging to the squad, with an emphasis on maintaining the method that won England the 2019 World Cup and last year’s T20 World Cup.
“I don’t think it will be a change because of how the World Cup went,” said the Nottinghamshire player. “It was possible for guys to be in their late 30s and nearing the end of their 50-plus careers. So it seemed like there would always be a new start after that.
“It’s a huge opportunity to show what we can do. I’ve been in and out of the white ball group for the last few years and it’s been impossible to break in, so for me personally I’m eager to get started.
“I’m one of the more experienced guys and I’ve played eight games. I have to prove that I’m good enough to be on this team, and the same goes for the other guys.”
‘A fresh group of players’
The England squad for the ODI series consists of just five players who played in the World Cup – plus Brydon Carse, who was called up during the tournament.
“It’s a fairly new group of players which is very exciting, a similar squad that has done some pretty special things in the Irish series,” Duckett said. “It is important for each of us to perform and that is how we look at it.
“I know how difficult it is to stay in a team when there are so many players and I think the biggest thing I’ve learned in the last 12 to 15 months is not to think too far ahead. I have to score this series to get to the next one. There are people knocking on the door that aren’t there, so I don’t think I’ll be a shoo-in for the next four years. It would be foolish to think so.”
Phil Salt, the England opener, arrived late in Antigua on Thursday due to a family matter. England will decide later whether to include him in Sunday’s opening match.
England have a plethora of batting options for this series. In addition to openers Salt and Will Jacks – who could also be tried lower down the rankings – England will also be keen to get opportunities for Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope, who will make his ODI debut during the series. Harry Brook and captain Jos Buttler are expected to bat at five and six.
The pitch at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is expected to offer a significant twist. This means England will face similar circumstances to those they found themselves in during the World Cup in India, when they won just three of nine matches in their title defence.
The West Indies are beginning their own rebuild after failing to qualify for the World Cup in India following defeats to Zimbabwe, the Netherlands and Scotland in the qualifying tournament. Adding to the side’s concerns, wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich has announced his immediate retirement from international cricket. Dowrich was only recently recalled to the squad after three years away from international competition. He has not been replaced in the West Indies squad for the three ODIs.
ODI team
Jos Buttler (captain, Lancashire), Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Zak Crawley (Surrey), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ben Duckett (Notts), Tom Hartley (Lancashire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Phil Salt (Lancashire), John Turner (Hampshire).
T20I team
Jos Buttler (captain, Lancashire), Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Moeen Ali (Warwickshire), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Ben Duckett (Notts), Will Jacks (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Tymal Mills (Sussex), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Reece Topley (Surrey), John Turner (Hampshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).