That’s it from me – a fantastic match to start the series - well played West Indies and particularly Shai Hope. We’ll be back for the next game in Antigua on Wednesday where England will be hoping to level up the series, they’ve got some wounds to lick before then. Do join us for that and thanks for tuning in today. Goodnight.
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Another post-match post mortem for Jos Buttler:
It was a fantastic game of cricket. All credit to Shai Hope, we asked a lot of questions and they played really well at the back end to chase the runs down. I thought our batting effort was fantastic. I loved the intent, felt that we really set the tone at the top. They pegged us back at bit, we found the wicket a bit tricky, and it needed a fantastic effort to chase them down.
On his own form after another failure with the bat:
You always want to play well, I’ll keep working hard and trust it will come back. It was a brilliant game, credit to Shai and Romario Shepherd they hit some fantastic sixes and we’ll learn a lot from it. I thought Rehan (Ahmed) bowled really well and there was a lot to be proud of. Some things we can do better moving on to the next one.”
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Shai Hope is player of the match (well, durr – of course he is):
That’s all I play for. I’ve played a lot of ODI cricket and always back myself to win from any position. [On Romario Shepherd] He was amazing, he’s one of those guys you can depend on. We got the win and want to continue the series on a high.”
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That’s West Indies’ second highest ODI chase and the highest chase from any side at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. A truly brilliant innings from Shai Hope who finished unbeaten on 109* and a match to forget for Sam Curran who returns England’s most expensive ODI figures of 98 runs for zilch. He’d already been clobbered before Jos Buttler decided to give him his final over… which turned out to be terminal. When does a learning curve become a mauling? We’ve just seen when.
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WEST INDIES WIN BY 4 WICKETS!
A stunning victory for West Indies! A scintillating finish by Shai Hope who kills the game off with his third six of the over! A remarkable win and a record chase! Hope holds his arms aloft in celebration, what a knock.
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Shai Hope goes to a remarkable ODI century!
Cripes! Shai Hope marmalises Sam Curran for back-to-back sixes to go to his century!
Sam Curran is coming onto bowl. Stand by your beds, this could be carnage.
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48th over: West Indies 307-6 (Hope 91, Joseph 1) A good over from Atkinson, just five runs off it and the wicket of Shepherd. He finishes with 2-62 off his ten. Can Shai Hope notch an incredibly measured century in a record-breaking West Indies win here? 19 runs are needed off 12 balls.
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WICKET! Shepherd lbw b Atkinson 48 (West Indies 302-6)
Atkinson gets the breakthrough – Shepherd reviews in vain – three reds on DRS confirm his fate. A heave across the line that isn’t pretty is his final act but he’s hauled his side to within touching distance of a record chase in Antigua. Top knock Romario.
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47th over: West Indies 302-5 (Hope 87, Shepherd 48) Carse starts poorly – a full toss slips from his fingers and is scythed away wide of Buttler for four by Romario Shepherd. A single brings Hope on strike and another full toss is served up by Carse, Hope sends it to the fence with ease. England’s bowlers are learning on the job here and coming up short currently.
S.I.X. My word – Carse goes short and is slammed for SIX by Hope. The blistering pull shot sails waaaay over the fence. Another huge over – seventeen runs off it. West Indies need just 24 off 18 now. What a game this has turned out to be. I haven’t thought of my casserole for about 2o overs. What a turn up. Cricket eh.
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46th over: West Indies 285-5 (Hope 76, Shepherd 42) Atkinson impresses at the other end, keeping Hope and Shepherd to just five runs off the over. He bends his back to send down a rapid bouncer and then follows up with some skilfully deployed wide-yorkers. 41 needed from 24 for West Indies. Brydon Carse is replacing the beleaguered Sam Curran.
45th over: West Indies 280-5 (Hope 74, Shepherd 41) Sam Curran is given another over. Gulp. Hope works for two off the first ball and then takes a single to mid-on. Shepherd on strike… a full toss is sliced away for four! Curran is struggling here. Shepherd takes a single to allow Shai Hope to come on strike and crrrrunch a slower ball for SIX over midwicket! A single off the last make it fifteen off the over. Curran has gone for 79 off nine overs, West Indies need 46 from 30. Very gettable. Surely Buttler won’t give Curran his last. Shirley.
44th over: West Indies 265-5 (Hope 64, Shepherd 36) Buttler turns to Gus Atkinson, decent experience this for Atkinson who England want to turn into a death bowler. He doesn’t start well… a full toss is clipped off the hip by Shepherd for four. A short ball is given as a wide and a tramline grazer is given as another as Atkinson tries to find a way out of the over with the dangerous Romario Shepherd sizing him up. Shai Hope is excellent at running between the wickets and West Indies keep the pressure on with ten runs coming off the over. 61 needed off 36 balls.
43rd over: West Indies 255-5 (Hope 61, Shepherd 32) Romario Shepherd is keeping this game alive – he blasts Sam Curran for NINETEEN runs off the over to bring the equation down to 71 needed from 42 balls. Curran went wide and was carved behind point for four, following up with a slower ball that was spotted and SLAMMED over the stand behind the bowler’s head! And again! Another slower ball and another SIX. Shepherd has his crook long-handle out and is giving it some humpty.
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42nd over: West Indies 236-5 (Hope 60, Shepherd 14) Just the one over from Sam Curran before Brydon Carse is called for. A day to forget in the field for the Surrey man, decidedly undercooked with the ball in hand. Carse goes short to Shepherd and is slammed for SIX behind square – fantastic shot! Hope picks up two runs from overthrows and Windies take eleven runs off the over which is about what they need from here on in.
41st over: West Indies 225-5 (Hope 57, Shepherd 6) Rehan Ahmed finishes his spell, he’s been a real bright spark for England today and returns figures of 2-40 off his ten overs.
- 10 overs
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) December 3, 2023
- 33 dot balls
- 40 runs
- 2 wickets
An excellent display with the ball from Rehan Ahmed 🌟#WIvENG pic.twitter.com/2wVwgs6IyK
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40th over: West Indies 220-5 (Hope 53, Shepherd 5) Sam Curran is back for his third spell. England have bagged two quick wickets but Shai Hope is still there for the home side. Curran drags his fingers down the seam and sends down another cutter… Shepherd goes for a huge waft and misses the ball by a rural kilometre – Umpire Gregory Brathwaite thinks it his hitting the stumps but the reviews show it to be sliding down and Shepherd survives. West Indies need 106 from the last 60 balls and England need five wickets.
WICKET! Rutherford c Brook b Rehan Ahmed 6 (West Indies 213-5)
An eventful over sees Shai Hope go to fifty by smearing Rehan Ahmed down the ground for a maximum. A nudged single brings Rutherford on strike and he is given out LBW after failing to connect with a slog-sweep. He sends it upstairs and is reprieved – ball tracking has the ball bouncing over. Gah. That didn’t last long. Next ball Rutherford hoicks Rehan into the air and straight down Harry Brook’s gullet on the square boundary. Fun while it lasted I suppose. Romario Shepherd is the new battter and he gets of the mark with a clip to leg first ball. West Indies spluttering now.
39th over: West Indies 213-5 (Hope 52, Shepherd 1)
38th over: West Indies 206-4 (Hope 45, Rutherford 6) Sherfane Rutherford strolls to the crease on debut and his first act with the bat in ODI cricket is to dispatch Gus Atkinson back over his head for SIX! International cricket? Easy.
WICKET! Hetmyer c Carse b Atkinson 32 (West Indies 200-4)
Big wicket for England! Hetmyer gets a top edge off Atkinson and sends a swirling catch down to long leg where Brydon Carse clings onto an excellent catch.
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37th over: West Indies 194-3 (Hope 45, Hetmyer 26) Rehan Ahmed is back into the attack and England could do with him breaking this partnership. A whiff of an appeal as Hetmyer misses a straight-ish ball but it was heading down past leg stump. Four off the over. On we go.
36th over: West Indies 190-3 (Hope 43, Hetmyer 24) Atkinson is plundered for ten off his over but can feel aggrieved about four of them as Sam Curran lets a ball go through him in the outfield to gift a four to Hetmyer. “Very sloppy” purrs Curtly Ambrose on comms. The Hope and Hetmyer partnership continues to grow, if they are still around in five or so overs then England will start to feel the not-so-warm glow of worry. West Indies need 136 from 84 balls and have seven wickets in hand.
35th over: West Indies 180-3 (Hope 40, Hetmyer 18) Livingstone finishes ten overs on the bounce, his features emitting a rosy glow with the effort. Five runs are knocked from the over to see Livingstone finish with 1-50 from his ten. Decent numbers. Gus Atkinson is coming back into the attack, he was a bit wayward earlier in the piece, West Indies need 146 runs from 90 balls. I’ve seen it done.
34th over: West Indies 175-3 (Hope 36, Hetmyer 17) Carse is shipped for the aforementioned ten runs off his over – singles abound before a drag down is seized upon by Hetmyer and carved to the fence for four.
33rd over: West Indies 165-3 (Hope 33, Hetmyer 11) Finally some shoulder-opening from West Indies! Hope crunches Livingstone down the ground for SIX and Hetmyer plays the same shot later in the over for a one bounce four. These two batters can definitely win it for the home side but the required rate is nudging towards ten an over. More lusty blows needed.
32nd over: West Indies 153-3 (Hope 26, Hetmyer 6) Carse throttles through another quiet over, West Indies need to put their foot down. Just three off it.
“This is the absolute best time of day to watch cricket in this ground.” Chirps us Showbizguru.
“Sun dipping, smoke from the barbecuing half-lobsters drifting across the wicket, beers down in price to about a quid a pint, England sniffing a win. And a night ahead on the rum after Stumps.”
It’s not a bowl of casserole and mash under the Christmas tree with a boxset is it though? Is it? Though? It isn’t. It’s better.
31st over: West Indies 150-3 (Hope 25, Hetmyer 4) Livingstone gets his unrecontructed Ebenezer on and continues in miserly fashion, just two off the over. He has 1-33 off his eight overs. Bah Humbowling.
WICKET! Carty lbw b Carse 16 (West Indies 144-3)
A sickener for Keacy Carty as the ball dies in the pitch from a Carse short ball and thuds into his pads with him unable to react in time to the surface doing him a dastardly. It wasn’t quite Nasser Hussain being undone by Carl Hooper but it certainly had shades of it. Liam Livingstone was pinned in a similar fashion in England’s innings too.
Shimron Hetmyer is the new batter and he nearly perishes first ball by spooning a catch just out of reach of Ben Duckett (no jokes, please) at short midwicket. Very short midwicket. Ahem. Hope is then nearly undone in the same manner as Carty as a short ball dies once more and thunks into the pad. It was narrowly going over this time to spare Hope’s (and Carse’s?) blushes.
30th over: West Indies 148-3 (Hope 24, Hetmyer 3)
29th over: West Indies 144-2 (Carty 16, Hope 23) Livingstone into his seventh over and he keeps it tight once again, just three runs off it which is nowhere near enough for the home side.
28th over: West Indies 141-2 (Carty 13, Hope 23) Curran goes back of a length and seeks solace in his cutters, four runs off the over as West Indies continue to be bogged down. The run rate is up above eight an over and they are down at around five at the minute.
It was all going so well for them earlier too:
WEST INDIES 104-0 pic.twitter.com/Gw3BHTvdCc
— Caribbean Cricket Podcast (@CaribCricket) December 3, 2023
27th over: West Indies 137-2 (Carty 12, Hope 20) Livingstone drags down and Hope slashes him for four over midwicket. Three nudged singles make it seven off the over.
Rehan Ahmed's leg-break has come a long way in the last year or so.
— Yas Rana (@Yas_Wisden) December 3, 2023
Really impressive so far, albeit on a helpful surface for the spinners.#WIvENG
26th over: West Indies 130-2 (Carty 11, Hope 14) Sam Curran returns but serves up more of the same as his first ball is too short and not fast enough, Hope rocking back and pulling it away to the fence with ease. A single to Hope brings Carty on strike and he fails to rotate the strike to make it just five off the over.
25th over: West Indies 125-2 (Carty 11, Hope 9) Shai Hope is a classy batter – anyone who saw his Headingley heroics a few years ago knows that all too well. He’s a gun white ball player too and has FIFTEEN ODI hundreds and nigh on 5,000 ODI runs to his name. Livingstone goes too full and he is smeared back down the ground for four by Hope, the ball searing back past bowler and umpire like a tracer. We’re half way through the innings – West Indies need 201 runs from 25 overs.
24th over: West Indies 120-2 (Carty 11, Hope 4) Rehan drifts too far down leg looking for the raging turner but Carty pounces on it to release some of the pressure that has been building since the wickets, a powerful sweep brings him four.
23rd over: West Indies 114-2 (Carty 6, Hope 3) Another tidy over from Livingstone, England have Will Jacks up their spinning sleeve too. Carty has been becalmed so far, just six runs from his 22 deliveries.
22nd over: West Indies 112-2 (Carty 3, Hope 1) Rehan Ahmed sends down a beautiful over and the first maiden of the match. A big turning leggie beats Hope on the outside edge and nearly kisses the off stump in the process. Just nine runs off the last five overs.
21st over: West Indies 112-2 (Carty 3, Hope 1) Just three singles off it as England apply the squeeze. Livingstone rattles through a rapid over.
20th over: West Indies 109-2 (Carty 3, Hope 1) Shai Hope joins Carty in the middle as shadows lengthen across the Sir Viv outfield. Ahmed probes away, giving the ball plenty of fizz from his shoulder, the ball turning every delivery now. West Indies have been pegged back and England look to snuff out the new batters with spin.
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WICKET! Brandon King b Livingstone 35 (West Indies 106-2)
One brings two and fellow opener Brandon King has to depart the middle. Livingstone went full and straight and slid it through the defences as King attempted to sweep. All of a sudden England have two wickets and the spinners look dangerous. There is turn out there, it isn’t quick turn but the ball is gripping on the surface.
19th over: West Indies 106-2 (Carty 1, Hope 0)
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18th over: West Indies 104-1 (King 34, Carty 0) Keacy Carty is the new batter for West Indies. Rehan Ahmed has looked England’s best bowler and managed to slide one into Athanaze’s front pad and under the attempted sweep. It looked very adjacent and the batter wisely opted against a review.
WICKET! Athanaze lbw b Rehan Ahmed 66 (West Indies 104-1)
Ahmed gets the much needed breakthrough and it is the in-form Athanaze who perishes to the googly!
17th over: West Indies 103-0 (Athanaze 66, King 33) West Indies bring the hundred up in the seventeenth – it’s been plain sailing for them so far as England have looked toothless in Antigua. Liam Livingstone is given the nod from Buttler but starts poorly, a spear down the leg-side is flicked fine for four and Athanaze gets out the broom and sweeps a length ball to the fence too.
16th over: West Indies 94-0 (Athanaze 62, King 28) Ahmed gets in and out of the over with just a couple off it.
15th over: West Indies 92-0 (Athanaze 61, King 27) Alick Athanaze goes to a lovely half century by slugging Brydon Carse away for three fours in the over! Well batted sir, a second ODI fifty for the southpaw opener and brought up in some style. A cut, a pull and a back-foot punch, all timed to perfection.
Casserole update – simmering away nicely. As it stands, England are being (not so slowly) cooked here in Antigua.
14th over: West Indies 79-0 (Athanaze 48, King 27) Ahmed into his second over and eight runs are taken off it. A googly is picked by King and swept hard to the boundary. This is an excellent opening stand from this pair, England look a bit lost in Antigua. I’m getting a depressingly familiar surge of those World Cup woes.
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13th over: West Indies 71-0 (Athanaze 46, King 21) King has been subdued in comparison to his opening partner but he perks up by climbing into a short ball from Carse and depositing it well over the boundary rope for SIX. Dare I say it, England look flat again here under Buttler’s stewardship, West Indies are ticking over exceedingly comfortably.
12th over: West Indies 62-0 (Athanaze 45, King 14) Ahmed starts perkily, a LBW appeal is given not out but he finds some turn from the off. A couple of googlies follow and come out of the back of the hand nicely. Just three runs off the over but a first wicket still proving elusive for England.
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11th over: West Indies 59-0 (Athanaze 43, King 13) Four fielders are now allowed to patrol the fence after the first PowerPlay comes to a close. The batters are happy to knock and run into the gaps and take four off the over from Carse. Righto, Rehan Ahmed is coming on to bowl his leggies, England need a breakthrough from their tyro spinner.
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10th over: West Indies 55-0 (Athanaze 41, King 11) Alick Athanaze pockets ten runs off the over. Atkinson goes short and is top edged over the keeper for four but the batter gets all of the next one as he hooks another short delivery over the rope for SIX! He’s been a delight to watch so far in this innings and heads into the forties at a run a ball.
9th over: West Indies 45-0 (Athanaze 31, King 11) Brydon Carse replaces Sam Curran - whose opening spell of four overs was pinged for 30 runs with ease. Carse has a Steve Harmison style high-arm on point of delivery and is thundering in as the light begins to fade in Antigua. Just three off Carse’s first over.
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8th over: West Indies 42-0 (Athanaze 31, King 9) A tighter over from Atkinson, just a single off it, Athanaze gliding down to third.
7th over: West Indies 41-0 (Athanaze 30, King 9) King slashes at a length ball and gets a meaty edge that flies through the vacant slip region for four. Ian Bishop does not like what he’s seen from England so far – “naughty bowling” he drawls on the TV commentary. ‘Naughty’ very much in the way my two year old can be (when she refuses to wear a coat, socks, shoes or sit in her car seat when we’re late for an appointment with Jolly Old St Nick) rather than the way, say, Danny Dyer might deploy the word (Nawwwty Plantagenets)
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6th over: West Indies 37-0 (Athanaze 30, King 5) Short, wide and clobbered to the fence. Atkinson lets out a groan as his loose delivery is scorched through the off side by Athanaze. A poor start from England with the ball.
5th over: West Indies 33-0 (Athanaze 26, King 5) That is baaaad cricket from Sam Curran – he again serves up a floaty half volley on Athanaze’s pads and is again whipped away for a boundary. It’s been classy stuff from West Indies so far, Alick Athanaze in particular looks to have a touch of class, languid back swing and a gimlet eye being showcased by the 24 year old left-handed opener.
4th over: West Indies 26-0 (Athanaze 19, King 5) A quiet over with just a wide from Atkinson off it. King tried to smear a length ball back over the bowler’s head but connected only with balmy Antiguan air. It does look lovely out there, meanwhile in England, Ian Wright is currently wearing this coat:
Feel warmer just looking at Wrighty’s coat pic.twitter.com/49ytN2eQzH
— Emily✨ (@_emilyoram) December 3, 2023
3rd over: West Indies 25-0 (Athanaze 19, King 5) Another good over for the home side, Athanaze has taken an early liking to Sam Curran’s scudding full balls and bookends the over with boundaries – a flick fine and a back foot drive through point. Too easy.
2nd over: West Indies 17-0 (Athanaze 11, King 5) A buzz cut sporting Gus Atkinson shares the new ball, King gets off the mark with a drive into the off side and Athanaze glides behind point for another single. Lovely shot – Atkinson goes too full and is driven away handsomely by King through the covers for four.
1st over: West Indies 11-0 (Athanaze 10, King 0) Curran bustles in and pitches full in the hope of finding some early movement. The alliteratively monikered Alick Athanaze clips off his pads for two to open the Windies account. Curran beats the bat with a back of a length ball but commits the cardinal sin of overstepping to gift an early FREE HIT. Bosh – Athanaze pulls the short ball for SIX. Easy as that, West Indies cruising the chase.*
Please do get in touch if you are tuned in and have thoughts on the cricket or serving suggestions for casserole. You can drop me an email at james.wallace.casual@guardian.co.uk
* After the first over.
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Alick Athanaze and Brandon King stroll out to the middle in shades of deep maroon, Sam Curran is going to start with the ball in sailor blue. Let’s play!
Thanks Tanya and hello everyone. I can feel the melatonin seeping through my screen as the sunshine beams in Antigua and inky gloom descends outside in South London.
A decent start to the Jos 2.0 regime – West Indies will have to bat very well to haul down what would be a record chase at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Salt, Jacks, Crawley and Brook all looked in good nick, now it is over to the new look bowling attack. I’m looking forward to seeing how Brydon Carse and Rehan Ahmed perform in particular. More than my slow cooking (and smug) beef casserole in the oven? I’d say it is evens. Honest.
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Aside from single figures for Jos Buttler, that was an encouraging display from New England. If not everything went right, the hitting was bold and there was no hint of that stench of desperation from the World Cup. A bish-bash-smash start from Salt and Jacks, careful class from Brook and Crawley and valuable smash n grab from Curran and Carse. Thanks for all your emails, as ever. Jim Wallace, fresh from a visit to Father Christmas, will take you through the second innings. Bye!
England 325 all out, West Indies need 326 to win
50th over: England 325 all out ( Carse 31) Twelve runs and two wickets from the final over. England’s tail retaining an admirable ability to come in and hit boundaries with no time to get their eye in. Rehan Ahmed belted Thomas for six before being caught, and Atkinson four from his first ball. England have the highest ODI score at this ground and it should, you’d think, be enough.
WICKET! Atkinson c sub (Roston Chase) b Thomas 4 (England 225 all out)
Goes for the max from the last ball of the innings, gets height but not much width and Chase runs in to collect.
WICKET! Rehan Ahmed c and b Thomas 12 (England 321-9)
Comedy fielding knock-out averted after Rehan Ahmed sends the ball into the stratosphere and Thomas and Hetmeyer nearly collide. Thomas holds sway, and Ahmed must go home.
49th over: England 313-8 ( Carse 31, Ahmed 4) Just six off Joseph’s final over, and Rehan Ahmed will be facing Thomas for the last over of the innings.
An email rolls in from a chilly London. “Stuck on a train going all around the houses to get to London only so I can leave again from the other side to my final destination, I tuned in to the Guardian and there’s more cricket! I had never thought it possible, having put England’s performance at the World Cup in the bin, and cricket aside for the year. Very many thanks - you’ve cheered me up no end. Hope it’s a good contest and both teams get a relatively stress-free workout.”
It certainly looks pretty blissful out there.
48th over: England 307-8 ( Carse 29, Ahmed 1) A valuable cameo by Curran comes to an end, with two overs left, and England fifty or so runs ahead of the average at this ground.
WICKET! Curran run-out (Joseph) 38 (England 305-8)
The most casual connection brings Curran six off Cariah’s first ball. But he’s beaten next delivery by the googly, and has to go the ball after, turning to watch the ball behind him as Carse thunders to the striker’s end. A calm Joseph throws to Cariah who whips off the bails at the non-striker’s end.
47th over: England 299-7 (Curran 32, Carse 28) Scurried singles but no boundaries as yellow-soled Shepherd thunders in. The sixth ball is given as a wide, Shepherd bends to the ground and roars in frustration. He has a point.
“Afternoon Tanya,” afternoon Brian Withington.
”Good test of my new varifocals switching rapidly between cricket on tablet and footy on TV. Hopefully they will soon be played in sufficiently to pass on to Jos …”
46th over: England 291-7 (Curran 26, Carse 27) Carse gets some bottom hand and the wind does the rest: six. Four for Curran with a checked drive and then Carse brings up the fifty partnership with a rasping four through mid-off. An extremely handy eighth-wicket partnership for England and a lavish 17 from Joseph’s ninth over.
“Break at the snooker, so I’ve double the audience.” taps Matt Winter. “Haven’t seen any of the Caribbean T20 but are they playing that on pitches like this? T5 would be more appropriate if so.”
45th over: England 274-7 (Curran 20, Carse 16) Curran scrubs his foot into the hard ground like a rabbit digging his scrape. Shades on, he then sends Thomas back down the ground for six. Carse swings and misses, trying to do the same, the ball just creeping past off stump. And then a hard chance, as Carse swings at Thomas but a leaping Hope can only get the top of his gloves to the ball.
44th over: England 264-7 (Curran 13, Carse 13) A misfield off Joseph’s first ball gives Carse another boundary. Certainly some sloppiness in the field to be worked through by West Indies during this eight-match white-ball series. I’m very grateful as a cup of Christmas tea arrives from the kitchen. A wide and a couple of full tosses dotted through the over.
43rd over: England 256-7 (Curran 12, Carse 7) The only rival I can think of for the Sir Vivian Richards stadium’s Curtly Ambrose and Andy Roberts ends is Old Trafford’s James Anderson and Brian Statham ends. OBO readers may correct me. Anyway, Sam Curran looks to have recovered from the World Cup (35 runs from three games) as he pummels Thomas for two fours.
42nd over: England 246-7 (Curran 3, Carse 6) Nicely done by Carse, as he leans into Cariah, long back almost bent in a U, and slams him down the ground for six. Plays and misses with a flourish next ball.
41st over: England 239-7 (Curran 2, Carse 0) Down to the allrounders and the bowlers. “England” intones Ian Bishop, “must rediscover how to score hundreds.”
WICKET! Brook c Joseph b Shepherd 71 (England 239-7)
This time Brook must go as he’s done by a slower ball, swings but this time finds Joseph waiting and watching at mid-off.
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40th over: England 236-6 (Brook 70, Curran 0) Four dots off Thomas, before Brook picks up four more through backward point. Then he survives the trickiest of chances, as Athanaze springs with vigour ten foot (give or take) in the air but can’t hold onto his cut. Stops the runs though.
39th over: England 232-6 (Brook 66, Curran 0) The boundary bonanza continues as Brook , somewhat inelegantly, shimmies over the keeper for four. Livingstone eyes up the pitch as one springs up and he’s right to be suspicious it turns out.
WICKET! Livingstone lbw Shepherd 17 (England 232-6)
Just as Ian Bishop was complaining about bad pitches, Livingsone is shot down by one that caterpaults into his ankle. In extreme optimism, he reviews. Lol.
38th over: England 227-5 (Brook 61, Livingstone 17) Brook has the taste now – bang – Cariah disappears, swept over the rope for six. And another boundary, another sweep, this time with more of a helicopter flourish: four. Livingstone, now itching for sport, goes skipping down the pitch, slamming up and over the rope. A second six over midwicket to complete a riot. 23 from the over!
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Fifty for Harry Brook!
37th over: England 204-5 (Brook 50, Livingstone 5) Brook breaks the shackles, pulling a dying bouncer from Shepherd over midwicket and into a pillar for six. Then a nifty dab to usher in his fifty – off 58 balls. Crawley claps straight-backed on the boundary.
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36th over: England 196-5 (Brook 42, Livingstone 2) Motie’s final over, just three from it. The ring unbroken. England’s projected run-rate has fallen to a more Antigua-average 272.
“Tanya,” taps John Starbuck innocently.
“As the snow steadily falls, coating West Yorkshire in the process, I wonder how come not everyone gets to be a travelling, West Indies-bound cricket correspondent for the Guardian. Maybe you feel that too?”
35th over: England 193-5 (Brook 42, Livingstone 2) Joseph sprints intently in. Not much for England to play with here. Sir Curtly points out that if Brook wants to pull, he’ll be doing it into the breeze. Only ten runs from the last five overs.
34th over: England 191-5 (Brook 41, Livingstone 0) Athanaze wins fielder of the match already. He Leaps to parry and calmly catches on the rebound. What can Livingstone do here?
“Good afternoon, Tanya.” Hello Charles Lomas!
“You’re using “pedestrian” in a pejorative sense again (23rd over). The P-word is a real problem. I’m not ashamed to be a pedestrian and cricket lover in France.
“Why not say “bowls a ball like a stalled gas-guzzler”? I no longer support Manchester City Petrol Club for obvious reasons. The struggle continues”
That’s a very good point that I have never thought about before. Suitably chastised.
WICKET! Buttler c Athanaze b Motie 3 (England 191-5)
Buttler plumps for a reverse-sweep, gets a brush of glove on ball, and this time slip holds on – on the rebound! The skipper’s quiet run continues and England are down to the allrounders.
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33rd over: England 190-4 (Brook 41, Buttler 3) Joseph returns, five overs left under his belt, pitching shorter and just two from the over. Buttler almost chops the last ball into his stumps. On comms they talk about how important the T20 World Cup next June will be for the West Indies economy – and point out that Namibia and Uganda have qualified from the African group – with no Zimbabwe.
32nd over: England 188-4 (Brook 40, Buttler 2) West Indies continue to peg England back – just one from Motie’s eighth over, the run-rate dropping under six.
31st over: England 187-4 (Brook 40, Buttler 1) Thomas, green-soled shoes kicking up behind him. Four dots, then Brook launches into a cover drive to pound the most reluctant tulip into the most frozen ground.
30th over: England 183-4 (Brook 36, Buttler 1) Chaotic communication between Brook and Crawley – who definitely felt hard done by. A nice innings from him. Enter Buttler – is this where he rediscovers that elusive form?
WICKET! Crawley run out (Athanaze) 48 (England 181-4)
A furious Crawley shakes his head all the way back to the pavilion after sprinting off for a run only to find Brook stuck rigidly to the crease at the non-striker’s end.
29th over: England 180-3 (Crawley 48, Brook 34) Thomas returns. Around the edge of the ground a man shrugs happily into his plastic chair. Crawley is kneecapped by one from Thomas, but Hope declines to review – and is proved right.
28th over: England 178-3 (Crawley 47, Brook 33) Brook picks up four off Cariah’s first ball, reverse-sweeping just wide of King, diving full stretch at slip. Another misfield helps England, as they rattle along to the sound of the drums.
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27th over: England 170-3 (Crawley 46, Brook 26) Motie too keeps it tight – spin giving West Indies some breathing space and England some problems.
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26th over: England 167-3 (Crawley 46, Brook 23) Cariah continues, with his sixth over. A couple of singles then Crawley tries to sweep a very wide one and almost loses his stumps. He miscues the next. “This has [suddenly] been a bit of a struggle,” deadpans David Gower.
25th over: England 163-3 (Crawley 44, Brook 21) Motie returns to see if he can make amends for his fielding howler. But his sins are almost forgotten, as Carty lets a Brook push nutmeg him and trundle away to the rope. At the half way stage, England have plenty to work with.
24th over: England 157-3 (Crawley 42, Brook 17) Brook’s first boundary! A reverse-sweep neatly sent on its way off Cariah. Nice synergy between the wickets from these two.
23rd over: England 152-3 (Crawley 42, Brook 12) Crawley nearly done by a ball so pedestrian from Shepherd that it barely reaches the other end. But keeps his pecker up with a four.
“Afternoon Tanya,” hello Guy Hornsby. “Lovely to see England back in the West Indies. I hope it’s far more watchable than our last trip, which already feels about ten years ago. It’ll be fascinating to see how the Test players fare in white ball. You know what you get with Duckett. I’m less sure what Crawley’s role is. The Root ‘glue’ player? I know it’s early on for him but he doesn’t have the range of shots or skill in rotating strike and moving the field around for me. I think his attacking game makes him a point of difference in Tests but much less of one in white ball where if you can stifle him he’s more prone to make a mistake. You wonder how much that drop will cost the West Indies.”
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22nd over: England 144-3 (Crawley 35, Brook 11) Crawley beaten twice in the first two two balls, firstly as he pushes forwards, then a wild outside edge flies high and the diving slip can’t close his hand quickly enough. A second life for Crawley. And he continues his struggles against Cariah through the over.
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21st over: England 141-3 (Crawley 33, Brook 10) A quiet over –just four from it. The curren projected score is 336, par score here is 250. A gentle breeze ruffles the flags.
20th over: England 137-3 (Crawley 31, Brook 8) Crawley drops his head and drives Cariah back over his head for four. Oh my, then the easiest of chances at long-on Crawley sweeps aerially, but Motie inexplicably lets the balls fall through his hands. Cariah doesn’t take it too well.
19th over: England 128-3 (Crawley 24, Brook 6) Shepherd returns, and is more economical than during his first stint until Crawley cuts squarely at his last ball and pockets four.
18th over: England 121-3 (Crawley 19, Brook 4) Cairah, face covered in suncream, twirls in. Just a handful of singles.
“ATAA, a bit of Antiguan sunshine on You Tube is the perfect antidote for a freezing Berlin afternoon, “writes Mark Beadle, “and the way Duckett got out did make me laugh out loud.”
17th over: England 118-3 (Crawley 18, Brook 2) Ah, I’ve now learned that Thomas played in England earlier this year – for Frocester. Read it here and do drop me a line if you had the misfortune to gsvr him. Crawley eyes up a wide one from Thomas and spatchcocks it through the covers for four.
16th over: England 110-3 (Crawley 12, Brook 0) Time for Duckett to hit one last four before the bowling change does the trick! Cariah makes a breakthrough with his whippy, wristy leg breaks. Enter Harry Brook in his 14th ODI match – averaging only in the mid twenties.
WICKET! Duckett b Cariah 20 (England 110-3)
Duckett tries to tickle-scoop Cariah’s fourth ball but loses his bails in the process.
15th over: England 105-2 (Crawley 11, Duckett 16) Lucky, lucky Duckett, as he flashes wildly at Thomas, yet picks up four. Around the edge of the ground there seems to be an attempt to recreate the atmosphere at the old Recreation Ground, as a couple of dancers in fully regalia gambol along the boundary edge. Thomas aims wide of Duckett’s stump, on the edge of legality, then when Duckett can at last get bat on ball, a brilliant pouch by Athanaze prevents the boundary.
14th over: England 100-2 (Crawley 10, Duckett 12) A Crawley special, kissed through the covers for four.
13th over: England 92-2 (Crawley 4, Duckett 11) Thomas keeps it tight – very tight – just a single from it as well as an lbw shout. “A good line from Oshane Thomas,” purrs Ian Bishop.
“Good Morning Tanya, Good Morning everyone.” Hello Adam Roberts!
“I live in the West Indies. I pay a lot of money for tv, with hundreds of channels, including 22 dedicated sports channels. Currently, three games of cricket are being shown, but WI v England is not one of them. I think the word I’m looking for might be: Doh!”
How can this be?!
12th over: England 91-2 (Crawley 3, Duckett 11) Duckett reverse-sweeps for four. Reverse sweeps for four again. Motie thoughtfully spins the ball from hand to hand as the sun beats down. Crawley dabs through the onside for a well-run two and grins.
11th over: England 79-2 (Crawley 0, Duckett 2) Another switch, this time to Oshane Thomas, steady, heavy-footed approach. Just one off a throughful over. West Indies have done well here to stop the England runaway train.
“I suppose if you’re picking a batsman who can bowl a bit,” writes John Starbuck, “then two of them, in Livingstone and Jacks, makes more sense than a full specialist in either discipline. It’s a point of view.”
10th over: England 78-2 (Crawley 0, Duckett 1) And so the Test band comes back together. Duckett off the mark with a scrambled single.
“Watching from Taiwan, coming to 10:00pm local time,” writes David Melhuish. “If any overseas enthusiasts want the free visuals, may I recommend the Windies YouTube channel.” Thank you David.
“Nice to see Buttler, assess the benign batting conditions and try to make some hay while the sun shines. Nice strike rate from 5 overs!”
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WICKET! Jacks c Hope b Joseph 26 (England 77-2)
Jacks beaten by one that screams through the channel and explodes off the pitch. This has suddenly become a bit more interesting.
9th over: England 77-1 (Jacks 26, Crawley 0) Enter the unfamiliar, though unmistakeable, figure of Zak Crawley in coloured kit. Motie on point straight away as Crawley content to watch his first four balls.
WICKET! Salt c Carty b Motie 45 (England 77-1)
Neatly pouched with both hands by Carty, as Salt steps wide to cut and can only send the ball to cover. He fumes back to the dugout.
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8th over: England 76-0 (Salt 45, Jacks 25) Joseph changes ends – and is despondent as Motie on the rope contrives to kicks the ball over the boundary. Jacks swings and misses. A relatively miserly over.
7th over: England 70-0 (Salt 44, Jacks 20) Hope turns to left-arm spin, in the shape of Motie: with a swift bowling arm and a little goatie. Four singles before Jacks drops to sweep but the ball is wide, and eludes both him and the keeper before skipping down to the boundary.
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6th over: England 59-0 (Salt 42, Jacks 16) Fifty up in the blink of an eye, as Salt picks up three boundaries in Shepherd’s over: four through backward point, six nearly into the hills rising above the ground and and another four screaming through the covers.
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5th over: England 43-0 (Salt 36, Jacks 16 ) There is a tinkling sound on the comms – can’t work out if it is cow bells, someone doing the washing up, or music. Anyone out there who might let me know? And wow, – Salt flicks Joseph, like Jay Gatsby might idly swat at a fly, for six. Jacks four more, over midwicket.
Hello Matt Winter. “Watching the incessant rain and Ronnie O’Sullivan, so I will rely on you for detail as to when this match tips from irrelevance into farce. Hoping for some fight from the West Indies.” Hmmm, yes, my teenager just left the room calling the match ‘pointless ‘– but it is paying for his Christmas presents so what does he know.
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4th over: England 32-0 (Salt 20, Jacks 12 ) Another stylish shot by Jacks, who stands tall and sends Shepherd rocketing over the dry outfield through point for four. The ground looks blissful, steps cut out of the hillside where spectators lounge in the sun. From what the cameras show at least, this game has attracted more England supporters than locals.
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3rd over: England 25-0 (Salt 18, Jacks 7 ) Just a dreamy drive on the up over extra cover for six, off Joseph. Jacks up and running and a good start for England.
2nd over: England 19-0 (Salt 18, Jacks 1 ) Shepherd, two gold chains, two black sleeves, one white ball. The pitch, the ground, is yellow dry. We pause three balls in while the umpires tell the players that DRS is down. Salt swats a six over square leg, a square drive for four.
An email drifts by – hello Gary Naylor! “As I’ve never been convinced that Liam Livingstone gets in Lancashire’s best XI for 50 overs cricket, I’m amazed that he’s survived the World Cup debacle. They’d be better off picking Steven Croft.”
Six games, averaging ten with bat plus three wickets at fifty odd. You’re right, but he still possesses that seize the game by the scruff of the neck quality which England so value.
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1st over: England 8-0 (Salt 8, Jacks 0 ) Joseph strides in giantly from the Sir Andy Roberts End. Salt inside edges friskily the first ball, and whallops the fourth for four, bouncing just before the boundary. An inside edge down to the long leg boundary follows.
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It doesn’t look packed at the ground though there are a fair scattering of Brits. Good to see Phil Salt applying some moisturiser to his hands. And here come the players.
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With ten minutes to do, we gaze at a statue of the noble Sir Viv. Do send me your thoughts on cricket and life this chilly afternoon. Meanwhile, Daren Sammy the West Indies white ball coach, gives credit to the groundsman: “It looks like a really good wicket, normally here there are some ridges, but what I’ve told my men is that we play accordingly. Yes we want to play a brand of cricket, but we can only play a brand of cricket that the surface allows.”
Simon Burnton is our man at the ground, and he spoke to Will Jacks about his hopes for the series.
We see a little video package with Jos Buttler – he looks a different man to the haunted figure who floated wan and disorientated around India.
Teams: West Indies
West Indies: Brandon King, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Yannic Cariah, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Oshane Thomas.
Shai Hope would have bowled first, and Ottis Gibson says to expect moisture in the wicket early on.
Teams: England
England: Jacks, Salt, Crawley, Duckett, Brook, Buttler (c, wk), Livingstone, S Curran, Carse, Ahmed, Atkinson.
England win the toss and will bat!
To the background of palm trees, Buttler calls heads, and heads it is. “We want to make first use of it with the bat,” he says. “Experience and exposure” for the new boys and he is keen to play “our brand of cricket” and – “get on the front foot.”
In the UK coverage is on TNT sport, and we’re in the studio with Kate Mason, and an intense looking Alastair Cook and Ottis Gisbon.
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Preamble
Good afternoon from a chilly, snow in shady corners, Manchester. Back a time zone or four, England’s B-string side – or in Jos Buttler’s words “a new beginning” - are raring to go for a three-match ODI series at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium, Antigua.
Only six players remain from the disastrous World Cup campaign, Butler, plus Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse. West Indies, who went one worse than England and didn’t even make the World Cup, are led by Shai Hope.
Five T20s follow before Christmas. Play starts at 1.30 GMT. Join us!
