West Indies v England: ODI series preview and tips

First ODI: Sky Sports Cricket, 3pm Wednesday

England are favourites to win the Cricket World Cup on home soil this summer and Eoin Morgan’s men look set to lay down a marker when they take on West Indies in a five-match one-day international series.

The tourists were downed by the Windies in the recent Test series but inconsistency has been a real problem in the longer format and they are a much more reliable proposition in the 50-over game where their power-packed batting and canny bowling has led the Three Lions to the top of the world rankings.

England have lost just two of their last 12 completed ODIs. A 5-0 mauling of Australia in June was followed by a 2-1 victory over India a month later and they demonstrated an ability to handle foreign conditions by beating Sri Lanka 3-1 in October, the loss coming when the series was already wrapped up.

It’s no great surprise to see the tourists no bigger than 2-9 to take the spoils in the series, which starts with two matches at the famed Kensington Oval in Barbados before the third are fourth ODIs take place in Grenada with the potential decider held in St Lucia.

The Windies are 9-2 shots to win but, despite demonstrating potential in all formats, won just eight of their 18 ODIs in 2018 with five of those victories coming against second-tier nations in World Cup qualifying.

England should prove too strong a proposition. Morgan has a fully-fit squad to pick from and it’s worth taking a chance on England winning both 4-1 and 5-0.

Adil Rashid did not cover himself in glory in his sole Test appearance on this tour, going for 117 wicketless runs before leaving to attend the birth of his second child, but the leg-spinner is Morgan’s go-to guy in the 50-over format.

The England captain is likely to rotate his quick bowlers so Rashid rates a confident selection to be the tourists’ top series wicket-taker. That’s an honour that Rashid has at least shared in four of England’s last five series and he warmed up well with 2-21 against the University of West Indies Vice Chancellor XI.

Chris Gayle will hog the headlines for the hosts in what looks set to be his final ODI series in the Caribbean but, while still capable of producing a blockbuster innings, the 39-year-old may not lead the batting ranks for the Windies.

Big-hitting Shimron Hetmyer looks worth a bet a 7-1 to lead the way for the home team. He has 20 one-day appearances for an average of 38, including three centuries, and has compiled scores of 52, 125 and 30 in his only 50-over performances in the West Indies.

He averaged a respectable 32 in the Test series but Hetmyer really shines in the shorter forms of the game and can build on a fine start to his fledgling career.

Recommendations
England to win 4-1
2pts 15-8 general
England to win 5-0
1pt 11-2 bet365, Betway, Hills
A Rashid top England series wicket-taker
2pts 10-3 Hills
S Hetmyer top West Indies series runscorer
1pt 7-1 Sky Bet

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