England return to the Caribbean for another white-ball series against West Indies, starting with the first of three ODIs on Thursday.
With the likes of Ben Stokes, Harry Brook and Joe Root ruled out due to the end of the recent Test tour of Pakistan, and the injured Jos Buttler absent from the ODI series, the tourists are without a star. We’re shining a light on power.
Here we take a look at the highlights of this trip, which included five T20s.
caribbean fatigue
With a relentless schedule ahead of Christmas, Britain’s third visit to the Caribbean in 11 months feels particularly unnecessary.
The banal consequence of a tour that, like the Test tour of Pakistan, creates friction with each other is that some of England’s best players are unable to perform the second ODI assignment before the Champions Trophy.
The lack of experience in this group is once again highlighted by leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who is the leading ODI run-scorer, while the untried quartet of Dan Mousley, Michael Pepper, John Turner and Jafer Chohan will get a chance to show off their skills. It works.
leader livingston
Cricket has had its share of unpredictable moments over the past few weeks and with Buttler’s nagging calf injury leaving Livingstone in temporary charge of England’s ODI squad, not many of his best players have been around.
Just a few weeks ago, the all-rounder was initially dropped for the visit to Australia but is back on the barge after a few brutal T20 knocks and Buttler’s injury setback.
He made the fastest ODI fifty at Lord’s, brutalizing the feared Mitchell Starc for 28.
Livingstone has experience of captaincy in domestic cricket and is currently one of the team’s senior officers.
Will Britain make things better?
Social media was abuzz when Pepper was called up after it was confirmed Buttler would miss the first part of the tour. Speculation was rife that the Essex wicketkeeper could partner Phil Salt in a dream combination for headline writers.
With Pepper called up as batting cover for the series, the two are unlikely to push together unless injury or illness strikes in camp.
What about Jaffer Chohan?
Chauhan, who was unable to make the grade for Middlesex but was given a second chance at Yorkshire with the help of the South Asian Cricket Academy and a recommendation from Joe Root, was England’s other left-field choice.
The 22-year-old leg-spinner has shown flashes of potential and currently has the high ceiling England crave.
The fact that his professional career consisted of only 23 T20s was no obstacle.
It seems unlikely that he will make his ODI debut and instead he may watch the briefing for this tour while learning from one of the best in the business in close friend and Yorkshire team-mate Adil Rashid.
What’s included in Windies?
The Champions Trophy in England may be just around the corner and there could be bolters from the Caribbean, but West Indies have failed to qualify for the eight-team tournament scheduled to be played in Pakistan in February and March next year.
Their next stop is the 2027 World Cup after missing out on the 2023 edition in India. However, they hold a proud home record against England, having not lost on their own terms in any format since March 2019.
Shai Hope, who averages close to 50 in this format, will captain the side while Shimron Hetmyer will look to provide firepower after his return.
Also in the Windies team is 17-year-old wicketkeeper Jewel Andrew, who has been tipped for big things by Caribbean greats including Viv Richards, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ian Bishop.
Read more: Liam Livingstone supports England’s ‘untapped talent’ to shine in the Caribbean
