England arrived in the Caribbean hoping to turn around their fortunes after disappointment at the T20 World Cup and an Ashes hammering. The West Indies too have struggled of late, falling well-short at the World Cup before losing a home ODI series to Ireland. Who will come out on top in this second of five matches? Read on for our full West Indies vs England Second T20 preview and prediction:
West Indies vs England Second T20 Preview and Prediction
Series So Far
As mentioned above, England arrived on this tour with their fortunes at a very low-ebb. And it was almost as if the Ashes, in which their top order were tormented by the Australian pace attack, had never ended as they lost early wickets to find themselves in a hole at 29-4. Things did not really improve thereafter. Eoin Morgan chewed up a fair number of deliveries, but never got going and only some late slogging by Adil Rashid and Chris Jordan pushed the score close to respectability.
Still, 103 never looked likely to be enough, even on a difficult surface characterised by variable bounce. So it proved. A superbly flighted delivery from Rashid did see Shai Hope depart stumped for 20 from 25 balls, but that was as good as it got for the English attack. A carefully constructed 50 from Brandon King, ably supported by 27 from Nicholas Pooran, was enough to steer the West Indies safely across the line with 17 balls to spare and nine wickets in hand.
Expected Teams
England are short of several of their star white-ball players, but there is still enough quality in this line-up to improve on their first innings showing. Jason Roy and Tom Banton are destructive openers, though they may need to be more circumspect, with James Vince, Moeen Ali and Eoin Morgan about as experienced a middle order as could be wished for. Sam Billings was understandably not at his best after a hectic period of travelling, but has proven his ability in the past.
Liam Dawson ran himself out in the first match, and possibility out of the side, if Liam Livingstone is fit to play, though he did bowl economically. Jordan had a good game with the bat, but he is not as effective as he once was with the ball. Still, he should keep his place. Rashid was probably the pick of the English bowlers, whilst Tymal Mills and Saqib Mahmood both have the pace to hurry the West Indies batters, provided they can be given some sort of score to defend.
For the West Indies, there is little need to change a side that won so handsomely. That will see King and Hope keep their place at the top of the order, with Pooran in at three. Darren Bravo will bat four with captain Kieron Pollard in at five. Jason Holder, who took four for seven with the ball, will come in at six, with Fabian Allen, Romario Shepherd and Odean Smith all also able to contribute with bat and ball. Akeal Hossain seems to be preferred to Hayden Walsh Jr. Sheldon Cottrell will complete the attack.
Prediction
England, even short the likes of Johnny Bairstow and Jos Buttler, are a formidable proposition. But they can struggle on difficult decks due to their strategy of going hard from the off and continuing to attack, pretty much regardless of the situation. That was their undoing in the first match and it may well cause them problems again here. They should manage an improved performance, but the West Indies looked much better equipped to deal with the conditions and should have the edge again.
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