The State of Play
England showed signs of life on Wednesday to take their three-game One-Day International series in the West Indies to a decider, but can they complete the job on Saturday as they look to end a disappointing year on a high?
Jos Buttler’s team were in danger of following their poor Cricket World Cup campaign with a demoralising series defeat in the Caribbean when Shai Hope’s century led the Windies to victory in last Sunday’s first ODI. However, the skipper led from the front as England levelled the series in midweek with a six-wicket win in Antigua.
Both Buttler and Sam Curran were able to savour a moment of redemption last time out, with the captain ending his barren run by striking 58 not out – his first half-century in 15 innings – and Curran rectifying his awful 0-98 figures from the opener with three early wickets.
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Buttler became just the fifth England batsman to pass 5,000 ODI runs last time out, and he will hope that match represents a turning point for his form as he leads England’s white-ball teams into a new era.
They still have work to do on Saturday, though, as the Windies target their first ODI series triumph over England since 2007, when they won as tourists in Birmingham and Nottingham.
Their chances could well come down to Hope, who followed up his hundred in the first ODI with a run-a-ball 68 in the second. The Barbados native will be looking for more of the same – only with better support – on home soil at the Kensington Oval, where it’s all to play for.
Series: LEVELLED 🦁#WIvENG | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/0PoOoNmCzc
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 6, 2023
Team News
England could be unchanged again for the decider, with Curran having quietened questions over his place in the team by helping reduce the Windies to 23-4 early on Wednesday. Rehan Ahmed and Liam Livingstone should also continue in the attack, having contributed two and three wickets respectively last time out.
Will Jacks top-scored for the tourists with his 73 off 72 balls, but the middle order must improve after Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett registered just three runs apiece.
The Windies stuck with a winning XI last time out, but young all-rounder Matthew Forde is reportedly pushing for a debut. Keacy Carty must step up with the bat, having been dismissed for a two-ball duck by Curran on Wednesday.
What they Said
Buttler on his return to form:
“I’ve been searching for form. I have had moments where it has been frustrating.
“I was getting fed up with it so it was time to put in a performance and get back to the player that I know I am.”
Mission Failed…..We’ll get ’em next time🏏💥#WIHomeforChristmas #WIvENG pic.twitter.com/0ix2IIPSoL
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) December 6, 2023
Curran on bouncing back from his poor display in the first ODI:
“Any time you bowl in certain scenarios, you know you’re going to have a tough day, but I think if you dwell on those things too much… I feel like it would probably have affected me here.
“The big, big messaging from this group was, ‘you’ve got to learn from those situations’. I feel like I’m a very strong character in that regard. I don’t feel like that’s going to affect me at all.
“I feel like I haven’t played a huge amount over the last couple of months, and like any player, it’s about a bit of rhythm and confidence, and fingers crossed we can keep looking forwards.”
When and How to Watch
The ODI series decider will get under way at 17:30 UK time on Saturday and will be broadcast live by TNT Sports, as will five T20Is between the teams in the lead-up to Christmas.
Prediction
With England giving lift-off to their new white-ball era on Wednesday, getting their bowlers back into form and seeing Buttler play his part with the bat, the tourists enter Saturday’s match as favourites to take the series. Buttler’s team were convincing in victory in midweek, and we expect more of the same next time out.
Barbados ✈️🏝️#EnglandCricket | #WIvENG pic.twitter.com/II9rugMndy
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 7, 2023
