WI vs ENG 2024/25, WI vs ENG 1st ODI Match Report, October 31, 2024

England 209 (Livingstone 48, Motie 4-41) vs West Indies

In a new-look England staff that includes 4 debutants, it was a well-recognized nemesis who wrecked their hopes of a aggressive whole within the first ODI in Antigua.

After shedding the toss and being requested to bat first, England’s innings was characterised by timid accumulation, paying homage to their off-colour shows on the 2023 World Cup, interspersed with moments of frustration, with nearly all of their wickets falling to misjudged makes an attempt to clear the interior ring.

West Indies bowled with nous from the outset, not least Seales, who shrugged off a wicketless tour of Sri Lanka earlier this month by claiming each of England’s openers inside his first 5 overs. Matthew Forde’s lack of utmost tempo was scarcely any much less efficient on a receptive floor that provided grip and bounce to his cutters, and although Alzarri Joseph was costly in his preliminary spell – not helped by some lax work within the outfield – he bounced again properly with two late wickets, plus a pinpoint bouncer that had Jofra Archer hopping (a sight that his batters won’t have appreciated).

England’s lack of familiarity with the rhythms of 50-over cricket have been writ giant throughout their efficiency, with every of the highest 4 falling for scores between 17 and 27, and none of them at a strike-rate faster than 82.

The primary to fall was Phil Salt, whose third-ball blaze via the covers was not a harbinger of the riches on supply on a notably sluggish outfield that added to the sense of an innings with no momentum. On 18 from 29 balls, Salt hoisted a toe-ended drive via the road off Seales, and was properly caught by Joseph, working again within the covers, as his innings got here to an finish contained in the powerplay for the 18th time in 23 ODIs.

Will Jacks, promoted to opener within the absence of Ben Duckett and the injured Jos Buttler, produced a close to equivalent knock of 19 from 27, ultimately skying an tried launch off Seales to Motie at mid-on. Jordan Cox projected confidence at No.3 within the first act of his prolonged worldwide audition, with the prospect of a Take a look at debut in New Zealand looming subsequent month, however ruined the impression with a horrid hack to deep third off Forde, whereas Jacob Bethell – one other Take a look at debutant-in-waiting – regarded sparky as he stored the strike rotating, but in addition fell to an ungainly slog into the covers.

Jamie Overton, making his ODI debut, had been singled out for his long-levered potential to hit sixes down the bottom, however fell lbw to Motie as he missed a first-ball sweep, whereas Dan Mousley’s worldwide debut was scarcely any extra memorable, although he did at the least join properly on the flat pull off Motie that picked out Evin Lewis on the midwicket boundary for six.

Adil Rashid, England’s main ODI run-scorer on this deeply inexperienced squad, then prolonged that lead by an extra 15 runs to tug the overall previous 200. However after Archer’s skied slap off Joseph had landed in Shai Hope’s gloves, Rashid was final man out with 29 balls left unused, and with John Turner, England’s fourth debutant, unbeaten on 2.

West Indies’ hopes of a swift chase have been dented by a mid-innings downpour, which delayed the resumption.