England are in the West Indies, the first of three test matches gets under way in Antigua on Tuesday and we take a look at the squads, recent form and the all important betting.
Let's begin with the squads.
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Jermaine Blackwood (Vice Captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Veerasammy Permaul, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales
England: Joe Root (C), Jonny Bairstow, Zak Crawley, Matthew Fischer, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Recent Form
West Indies
West Indies most recent test match action came in Sri Lanka in November last year and they lost both test matches by margins of 187 and 164 runs. Prior to that they drew a 2 match series at home to Pakistan (1-1) and in June last year they lost 2-0 at home to South Africa.
England
England are licking their wounds from a 4-0 series defeat in the Ashes in Australia over Christmas and New Year. They hosted India in August / September last year and lost a 4 match series 2-1 (5th test was cancelled). Prior to that they lost a 2 match series at home to New Zealand (1-0).
Recent Head to Head
The most recent meeting came in England in the middle of 2020, West Indies sprang a surprise in winning the first of 3 test matches but England hit back to win the series 2-1.
Early in 2019 West Indies were 2-1 winners in a 3 match home series.
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua
Over the course of the last decade 8 test matches at this venue have produced 3 wins for West Indies, 2 defeats and 3 draws.
The 2 most recent matches came against Sri Lanka in March 2021 and both matches were drawn.
When England were last here in January 2019 West Indies won by 10 wickets.
The Betting - 1st Test Match
At the time of writing West Indies are 7/4 to win the match with the draw at 4/1 and England are even money
Joe Root is 9/4 to top score for England in the first innings and Brathwaite and Brooks are both 7/2 to do likewise for West Indies
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
The Verdict
England were all over the place in Australia but they have brought a strong squad to the Caribbean and with Paul Collingwood have taken over as interim coach I think they will have too much for West Indies.
England to win the game is my headline pick and Johnny Bairstow gets the vote to top score for the visitors in the first innings.
Bets: England to win at even money
Top England 1st innings run scorer, Bairstow at 7/2
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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