If you didn’t watch the recent 5-match ODI series between West Indies and England, trust me, you don’t know what exhilarating cricket is. If you missed even one of those games, go back and watch the highlights, because it’s only going to get better now. Now, the sixes will get bigger and the bouncers deadlier as two of the world’s best T20 teams line up against each other in a series of 3 T20Is.
They haven’t given each other any margin of error and good performances have been bested with better performances so far. I can only imagine what awaits us in the T20 series after Windies won the Tests 2-1 and then, they came from behind to draw the ODI series 2-1, thanks to an evergreen Chris Gayle, who surely must reconsider international retirement now. The 1st T20I takes place at St. Lucia and you can get our complete fantasy preview below…
Match info
- Tournament: England tour of West Indies 2019
- Date: 6th March 2019, 1:30am IST
- Venue: Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
- Capacity: 12,400+
- Series status: First game of the 3-match series
Form (recent first)
- West Indies: W L W L L
- England: W L W L W
Stats
- It has been 7 years since the last T20I here – Windies lost the last one to Australia in March 2012.
- Windies have won 1 of 3 T20Is here – 33.33% win rate.
- England have won 3 of 3 T20Is here – 100% win rate.
- 197/7 is the highest score and successful chase here – Aus vs Pak, May 2010.
- West Indies have never scored 150+ at this ground.
England
The 200-run barrier not been scaled at this stadium yet but Chris Gayle’s sensational form coupled with the fact that this format could suit opening partner John Campbell. The latter showed promise but he wasn’t very good in his first few weeks of international cricket. His Test and ODI debut series were mediocre but he can throw caution to the wind and make this series better. I’d suggest picking both.
Windies is one of those few teams in the world that can pick same playing elevens for ODIs and T20s, and we’re expecting an unchanged 11 from the 5th ODI. Andre Russell, in case you were wondering, has been left out due to a knee injury he picked up after joining the squad. Shimron Hetmyer may be promoted in the T20s and if hitting a 6 off the first ball in the 3rd ODI was any indicator of his style, we are going to LOVE him in T20 cricket.
West Indies
As for England, it’s a different scenario as quite a few changes are expected. Firstly, T20 specialist Chris Jordan will come into the team in place of Chris Woakes, while David Willey is all set to play his first game on this tour after being patient through the ODI series, as he comes in to replace Mark Wood (probably – 90%). Alex Hales could make a good pick after his knock of 82 in the 4th ODI.
However, there could be plenty of takers for his opening partner, including Sam Billings, Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow. I would suggest picking Bairstow as he has already played a few innings in the Caribbean while the other two haven’t. Another massive change is Joe Denly coming in place of Moeen Ali. Denly won the MOM award in England’s last T20I in Sri Lanka and he’s going to be my captain. He could open with the bat as well as open with the ball.
WI v ENG Punting
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— Read Scoops (@ReadScoops) February 27, 2019
My fantasy eleven
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