West Indies v England: Test series tips, betting preview & TV

TV: Sky Sports Cricket, 2pm Wednesday

Three-Test series

The betting suggests England are set for a Caribbean cruise but the West Indies have upset the odds with some memorable recent performances in this series.

Their last home series against England, in 2015, finished 1-1 as they won the third Test having claimed an unlikely draw in the first match after number eight Jason Holder frustrated the tourists with an unbeaten 103.

Two years later they were 16-1 shots at Headingley where they chased down 322 to win the second Test just a week after being blown away for 168 and 137 at Edgbaston.

Their last three home series have been respectable – a 2-0 win over Bangladesh, a 1-1 draw with Sri Lanka and a 2-1 defeat to Pakistan – and the return of Darren Bravo and emergence of Shimron Hetmyer should bolster their batting.

Bravo and Shai Hope have the makings of a solid axis at numbers three and four while Hetmyer is a wildcard who could produce
a match-winning innings in a low-scoring contest.

He cracked 222 runs off 211 balls in the two-Test series in Bangladesh, where fast bowlers Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel also impressed with their pace and attitude in unhelpful conditions.

England are clear favourites

England are clear favourites but they rode their luck at times in the 3-0 series win in Sri Lanka and the Windies have the potential to unsettle them on awkward pitches.

James Anderson has been lightly raced this winter, bowling just 41 overs in the two Tests he played in spin-friendly Sri Lanka.

However, England’s record wicket-taker looked as good as ever when claiming 24 scalps in last summer’s series against India and he has an excellent recent record against the Windies.

Anderson picked up 19 wickets in three home Tests in 2017, having taken 17 in three matches on the 2015 tour of the Caribbean, and he warmed up for this series with 4-12 off 11 overs against a President’s 11 in Cave Hill.

Recommendations
England to win 2-1
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J Anderson top England series wicket-taker
2pts 3-1 Sky Bet

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