Two comprehensive victories for England and it's good to see Jos Buttler back even if the bowling was poor by the Windies with a couple of their better bowlers missing through injury and suspension. I felt gutted for Jacks when he didn't get pass 40 but Captain Jos appreciated his patience 38 and giving him the strike when he was in the groove.
On to St Lucia and hopefully an outfield that's drier as that was dangerous when players are expected to dive around.
Two comprehensive victories for England and it's good to see Josh Buttler back even if the bowling was poor by the Windies with a couple of their better bowlers missing through injury and suspension. I felt gutted for Jacks when he didn't get pass 40 but Captain Josh appreciated his patience 38 and giving him the strike when he was in the groove.
On to St Lucia and hopefully an outfield that's drier as that was dangerous when players are expected to dive around.
Two comprehensive victories for England and it's good to see Josh Buttler back even if the bowling was poor by the Windies with a couple of their better bowlers missing through injury and suspension. I felt gutted for Jacks when he didn't get pass 40 but Captain Josh appreciated his patience 38 and giving him the strike when he was in the groove.
On to St Lucia and hopefully an outfield that's drier as that was dangerous when players are expected to dive around.
Two comprehensive victories for England and it's good to see Josh Buttler back even if the bowling was poor by the Windies with a couple of their better bowlers missing through injury and suspension. I felt gutted for Jacks when he didn't get pass 40 but Captain Josh appreciated his patience 38 and giving him the strike when he was in the groove.
On to St Lucia and hopefully an outfield that's drier as that was dangerous when players are expected to dive around.
At the toss Buttler said that he had spoken to McCullum about the keeping situation and the new England white ball coach has (at last) persuaded him to relinquish the gloves to concentrate on the captaining. Buttler won the toss and chose to bowl and he returned for Cox from the ODI side with Saqib coming in for Archer. - We got off to a superb start with Saqib taking all three wickets and the Windies reduced to 18-3. The batters came and went still firing with all guns left, right and centre even at 69-5. Our fragility with the ball was exposed when Topley went off injured and in anger (threatened to throw a chair on his way off) after bowling 2.4 overs. Rashid was his usual good self but even he wasn't immune to being hit for maximums as the Windies just kept coming. Motie, coming in at 10, was incredible in hitting 33 off just balls to take the total to 182-9 but should a tail-ender really be doing that to us?
That target of 183 was going to be a record chase at Bridgetown but Salt, from the off, was superb and controlled. Jacks' shot selection once again let him down in trying to slog sweep a ball that simply wasn't there to play that shot to. As talented as he undoubtedly is, he is the one that is now vulnerable for a returning Brook or even Duckett coming in at the top to offer that left/right combo. Which brings us to Buttler, according to Finn in the studio, coming in at 3 for only the third time in his T20 career. For one ball. He was out, caught, by Motie with one of the most incredible catches ever seen. Out of position on the third man boundary in being in too far, he somehow pouched the ball, one-handed and not just above his head but behind him too. Even Buttler couldn't help smiling at how unlucky he was to be a victim of such brilliance. Bethell came in at 4 to produce an innings of maturity in front of his family and friends in front of his "home" crowd. This wasn't just about crash, bang, wallop. This was about angles, finding gaps behind square, a la Duckett for 58* off 36. A real talent. The day, however, belonged to Salt though in pacing his 103* off 53 balls to take us home with 3.1 overs to spare.
An excellent win. The area to address is that balance of the side. We do not have a second spinner in the way that other top sides do. We have "fill ins" be that Livingstone (2-0-21-1), Mousley (1-0-7-0 and really couldn't understand why he wasn't given a second over given that his first ball was a full bunger that was duly dispatched for 6) with neither Bethell or Jacks thrown the ball. Curran appears to have been find out by the analysts - just 6 wickets in his last 9 T20Is bowling spells and going at almost 10 an over in that time. He's also failed to take a wicket in 6 of his last 7 ODI spells.
Overall, though, a good platform to build on. Next one, somewhat unusually given its proximity, is tonight.
Topley has flown home as a result of that injury. To add insult to that injury, he has been fined 15% of his match fee for actually throwing that chair.
The competition in this T20 side will definitely make it harder for Curran to be a fixture in the side now. He's a good competitor so will keep plugging away with Bat and ball.
Comments
I felt gutted for Jacks when he didn't get pass 40 but Captain Jos appreciated his patience 38 and giving him the strike when he was in the groove.
On to St Lucia and hopefully an outfield that's drier as that was dangerous when players are expected to dive around.
I don't like to drop my h's !
It was great to see Joe get his timing back last night.
Left rainy Antigua and now in rainy St Lucia ☔
21-4
Saqib has 3-13
110/6
Motie c Jacks b Overton 0
Powell C Bethel B Overton 54
113/8
122/8 after 18 overs.
Mousley getting the last over.
58/3 after 8.