The ODI series between England and West Indies continues with the middle match of the three taking place on Sunday when the two sides make their way across the border into Cardiff for the second game.
England couldn’t be more emphatic winners of the opening match and so West Indies have a lot of work to do if they are going to level the series and force a decider. With ODI ranking implications on this match the home side will be keen to win the series here and now.
England
If England could have scripted their start to a new era that they would have wanted then it probably would have looked something like what they delivered in the opening match of the series on Thursday. They were completely dominant and that wasn’t necessarily a given because they were under pressure going into the series both from a ranking point of view but also because their displays in 50 over cricket have been dismal for far too long for a team with the talent they have in their country.
We saw glimpses of what England could be like moving forward in that opening game but they are going to need to face competent opposition before we can really judge them. You can only beat what is in front of you and England were ruthless in doing it in that opening game, with bat and ball. That bodes well but they are not going to get fed the rubbish that West Indies sent down every week so bigger tests are to come but now is all about building foundations and it was a good start in that regard.
West Indies
You couldn’t argue with the preparation that West Indies had for this series. Yes they are missing a couple of players who are still at the Indian Premier League but they were in Ireland for a week before these matches and would have been expected to hit the ground running as a result. They did anything but. They delivered one of the worst showings we have seen in an ODI in England in that opening game and this series will have tamely passed them by if there isn’t a dramatic improvement here.
West Indies were terrible with the ball. There was so many ‘hit me’ balls sent down that England were able to get away from them and once you let any England side get dominance over you these days you’re in trouble. The attack looked toothless and while it would be harsh to be too critical of their batting when you consider that they were chasing 400, at no stage did there look like a plan or anyone who was capable of putting a big innings together. West Indies can’t fail to be better here as it would be near enough impossible to do worse.
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Team News
England will be forced into a change for this match as Jamie Overton has been ruled out of the remainder of the series having suffered a finger injury in the first game. No replacement has been called up so Luke Wood, Matthew Potts, Tom Banton or Tom Hartley will come in.
You would imagine West Indies will make changes for this match. Shimron Hetmyer wasn’t included in the opener but should be involved here while Sherfane Rutherford is on his way to join up with the squad but might not arrive in time for this contest.
Betting
I have to focus on England in this match because who knows what we are going to get from West Indies. We know exactly how England are going to approach this one because we saw it in the opening game. West Indies might bowl a bit better in this match, they would do well to bowl as badly again, but they look like they lack the tools of flat pitches to offer too much in the way of pressure and so I would expect England to come flying out of the traps once again.
The powerplay runs line for England is 68.5 but that doesn’t feel high enough here given the aggression of the England openers and the questions that they ask the bowlers. Admittedly the square boundaries are much bigger here but that brings threes into play but Jamie Smith in particular is very good at hitting down the ground. Opposition bowlers often get it wrong here early and readjust their lengths the longer the innings goes on but while that is happening England, who made 90 in the opening 10 overs in Birmingham, can go beyond 68.5 runs in the first 10 overs.
Tips
Back England First 10 overs – Over 68.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with William Hill
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