West Indies Vs England Cricket Tips
England fell to a disheartening 2-1 defeat in the recent 50-over series in the West Indies, continuing their recent trend of struggles for their white-ball team.
Marcus Trescothick led the team following Matthew Mott’s departure, but he could not turn around the fortunes of the team, with his inexperienced side falling to defeat.
The West Indies were impressive on home soil, but the visitors will have to improve their performances with the Champions Trophy in Pakistan on the horizon.
Here we pick out the best bets for this five-game T20 series, which begins at the Kensington Oval on Saturday.
Tip 1 – West Indies to win the series @ 27/25
England struggled with both bat and ball in the 50-over series between these two teams and they were skittled for 209 in the first game before allowing their opponents to cruise to victory in reply, taking just two West Indies wickets.
They won the second game by five wickets but followed that by taking just two wickets again as West Indies chased a total of 264 with seven overs to spare in the decider.
Jofra Archer took just one wicket from 23 overs in the series, while Adil Rashid finished with figures of 0-51 in the decider.
None of the various bowlers who were given opportunities particularly impressed, with the potential exception of John Turner, who took 2-42 in their win.
Captain Jos Buttler will return for the tourists in this clash but he needs to bring about a sharp turnaround in fortunes for this side, who do not have the best record against the West Indies in this format.
The hosts have won four of the last seven T20 head-to-heads and they recently whitewashed South Africa in this format.
The home team look good value to win the series against an England team that appears directionless at present.
Tip 2 – Phil Salt top England run scorer first game @ 3/1
One of the few silver linings of England’s performances in the 50-over series between these two teams was the batting efforts of Salt.
The opener managed totals of 18, 59 and 74 and may be worth sticking with to be England’s top scorer in this series, as he looks likely to be reunited with Buttler at the top of the lineup.
Tip 3 – Evin Lewis top West Indies run scorer first game @ 3/1
Being an opening batter in white-ball cricket can be something of a boom or bust experience and that has certainly been true for West Indies opener Lewis recently.
The 30-year-old has knocks of 50, 94 and 102 not out in his last seven internationals. However, he has also recorded three tallies in the single figures in that run.
Lewis could be worth siding with to be on a going day and to top score for the home team here.
Our ODI tips
England's tour of the West Indies begins this week with the first of three ODIs in the Caribbean.
The first of those contests will take place at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua and the England squad has an exciting feel to it.
Only two players who featured in England's Test series against Pakistan are involved in this squad, which will also play five T20 internationals against the Windies.
The big news for England is that skipper Jos Buttler remains out for the ODIs, although he is hoping to feature in the T20I series, and Liam Livingstone will captain England in his place.
Here is a look at the best bets for the upcoming ODI series and the opening contest in Antigua and Barbuda.
Tip 1 - England to win 2-1 @ 29/20
England may not be at full strength for this contest - Buttler is out and there is no Harry Brook due to his Test commitments - but they nonetheless look the more likely winners of this ODI series.
The West Indies have lost five of their six matches in the format this year, most recently losing a bilateral series 2-1 with Sri Lanka.
They at least bounced back to win the last ODI of that series by eight wickets, piling on 196-2, but even then victory was secured by DLS method.
That performance suggests the West Indies could put up a fight, but England go into this series the stronger and will have learned a lot from their 3-2 series defeat to Australia in September, so back the tourists to win this 2-1.
Tip 2 - Jofra Archer top England wicket-taker in first ODI @ 11/4
England paceman Jofra Archer made his return to 50-over cricket for the first time since March 2023 in the series with Australia and he looked in good shape.
Archer claimed two wickets in each of the last two ODIs of that series and now that he has had time to embed himself into the format again, he looks ready to cause a stir against the West Indies.
The fast bowler claimed 10 wickets at the T20 World Cup for England earlier this year and it will not take a lot for him to transfer those skills to ODIs again, so back him to be England's top wicket-taker in favourable conditions in the first match of the series.
Tip 3 - Phil Salt top England runscorer in first ODI @ 3/1
The absence of key figures such as Buttler, Brook and Ben Duckett means others have to step up to the plate at the crease in this series and one of those individuals is Phil Salt.
Salt has hardly set the ODI format alight to date, but he showed signs of promise at the end of the recent Australia series, scoring 22 at Lord's and 45 in Bristol.
His average of 32.50 in the format leaves plenty to be desired, but with minimal competition around him and a couple of decent knocks behind him, he could be a worthwhile pick to be England's top runscorer in the first ODI of three.