ENG vs WI Match Preview- 1st ODI, West Indies Tour Of England 2025

Three days after the end of the three-match ODI series for West Indies in Ireland, the Maroon side will trip to England for the three-match ODI series, starting on May 29 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The home side will be eager to do well in all the departments after they fail in the ODI World Cup 2023 and the Champions Trophy 2025.

For the Eng vs WI series, the 2019 ODI champions will be under the leadership of their new white-ball captain, Harry Brook, with a few of the IPL-bound players, including Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell, flying back home for the assignment.

Interestingly, the selection committee has selected Joe Root at the top order for the ENG vs WI series, with Ben Duckett, fresh from his fine century against Zimbabwe last week, expected to open the batting. Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse are expected to lead the bowling attack in the absence of Jofra Archer, who is ruled out of the series with injury.

Adil Rashid will be the premier spinner of the three 50-over fixtures, while on the other hand, Jamie Overton can bring the balance by batting at six and offering a few overs with pace. Jos Buttler will be free from a lot of responsibilities but will be a crucial member of the lower order.

Going into the Eng vs WI opening game, the tourists will open the batting with Brandon King and Evin Lewis. The latter is an aggressive opener, while the likes of Shimron Hetmyer and captain Shai Hope look to do the same.

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Keacy Carty will be fresh for the games after his fine knock of 170 in the third ODI against Ireland. In 31 innings, the right-handed batter has already smacked 1278 runs at an average of around 50, thanks to three centuries and five half-centuries at the best score of 170 runs.

In the bowling department, Gudakesh Motie will be the left-arm spinner, who can turn extra and offer off the surface. Jayden Seales can swing the new delivery, while Alzarri Joseph will bring pace in the middle. Matthew Forde is another fine performer at number eight for the Caribbean side, who can contribute some quick runs.

The Shai Hope-led side will be under pressure to do well, especially after not being able to feature in both the last ODI World Cup in India and the Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

They need to develop their performance in this format. However, the all-format coach, Darren Sammy, has already shouldered the responsibility of success in the future.

ENG vs WI Playing XIs

England

Ben Duckett, Tom Banton, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk.), Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Brydon Carse, Saqib Mahmood.

West Indies

Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Justin Graves, Matthew Forde, Roston Chase, Jayden Seals, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie.

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ENG vs WI Key Battles

• Alzarri Joseph has dismissed Joe Root twice in the ODI format. In reply, the batter has smashed 39 ODI runs in 42 balls at an average of 19.5, thanks to four boundaries and 21 dot balls.
• Shai Hope has enjoyed his batting against England’s leg-spinner, Adil Rashid. Before this Eng vs WI series, the right-handed batter has nailed Rashid for 87 ODI runs in 93 balls at a strike rate of 87, besides getting dismissed only once.
• Jos Buttler has smashed Joseph for 24 runs in 24 ODI deliveries at a strike rate of 100 before the Eng vs WI series, with the help of two fours and one six.