England v West Indies: Third Test preview, analysis, predictions and free tips

Free tips, best bets and analysis for the England v West Indies third Test at Old Trafford starting on Friday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Cricket, from 11am Friday

Best bets

England highest first-wicket partnership
3pts 4-7 Betway
Ben Stokes top England first-innings runscorer
1pt 4-1 bet365
Kemar Roach top West Indies first-innings wicket-taker
1pt 5-2 general

Match preview

Not for the first time in the recent past, Ben Stokes hauled England to victory in last week's second Test to keep the hosts' chances of regaining the Wisden Trophy alive.

Superstar all-rounder Stokes scored 254 runs and took three vital wickets in another virtuoso man-of-the-match performance as England beat the West Indies by 113 runs at Old Trafford to square the series at 1-1.

England were as short as 1-10 to win the three-match series before their defeat at the Ageas Bowl two weeks ago and remain odds-on to wrap up a 2-1 victory despite their first-Test wobble.

Old Trafford has been a fortress for England this millennium with last week's success being their tenth there since 2000. The Three Lions have lost only two of 15 Tests in Manchester in that time - to Australia in last summer's Ashes and against Pakistan 19 years ago.

The West Indies are 17-2 to add their name to that extremely select list and win a first series in England in 30 years.

Jason Holder's tourists have been competitive throughout the series, especially with the ball, but questions remain over their top order.

Opener John Campbell and number three Shai Hope have not passed 28 in four innings and are under pressure to retain their places in the side according to coach Phil Simmons.

Even with the resistance of limpet-like opener Kraigg Brathwaite, the Windies have failed to put on any opening stand of note with the tourists' first wicket falling on 43, 7, 7 & 16.

England's opening duo Rory Burns and Dom Sibley will not win any awards for style but they are the hard-grafting pairing Joe Root's men have craved. The pair have put on first-wicket stands of 0, 72 & 29 in three innings in the series and are looking more at home batting together.

With doubts over who the Windies will pair with Brathwaite, Burns and Sibley look a good bet to provide England with the highest first-wicket stand.

England are likely to rotate their bowlers again with a three-match series against Pakistan beginning on August 5, but there should be little change to their batting line-up.

Captain Root looked in decent touch in the first innings before edging to slip but at present Stokes has to be regarded as the hosts' best batsman.

The 29-year-old has scored 343 runs in four innings - more than twice as many as next best Sibley - and is having a purple patch with the bat.

Stokes has scored 920 runs in his last ten Tests at an average of over 54. In that time he has passed fifty six times with two tons.

The all-rounder may not be given such an arduous workload with the ball in this week's decider having pulled up in his follow-through during the Windies' second innings last week.

He continues to go off second-favourite to Root in the top England first-innings runscorer markets but in his current mood Stokes is the man to focus on.

Windies attack leader Kemar Roach was luckless in Southampton but got finally got off the mark for the series with four wickets in the second Test.

Alongside skipper Holder, Roach has been the most disciplined of the tourists' bowlers and has consistently created chances.

If his teammates can hold on to them, Roach may get further reward for his efforts.

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