Is it just coincidence or repeated mistakes that generally leave England under-prepared for Test series in the Caribbean?
This year, they’ve not even had first-class opposition in a couple of warm-up games that featured 12-a-side in matches over two days that were virtually impossible to win or lose. In days gone by, that would have been the kiss of death for an England side facing the West Indies on their own hard wickets. You only have to remember the debacles of 1986 and 1990 to realise that you can’t just turn up in the back garden of any Test-playing nation and expect to pick up the pace straight away.
Sadly, it appears, lessons still haven’t been learned., which is disappointing given the professionalism which now surrounds the England team – you are unlikely to catch any of Joe Root’s team out on a pedalo in the dead of night! But it is a concern when their most senior bowler, James Anderson, comments that warm-up games this year have been inadequate, even though Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes have been among the wickets.
What is in England’s favour is that cricket is no longer the default pastime in the Caribbean and hasn’t been for a long time. Test matches suffer from poor attendances compared to limited-overs games and it’s a long time since any Windies team caused any ripples on the world stage in terms of the five-day game. England supporters will heavily outnumber home fans at the First Test in Bridgetown, Barbados, as Root’s side attempt to win back-to-back series away from home after their whitewash of Sri Lanka before Christmas.
Such is England’s dominance, on paper, that the tourists are only a best 2/9 with Unibet to win the three-match series. The same firm offer 15/8 that it is another 3-0 whitewash but it may not be as easy to conquer the Caribbean as most commentators seem to think. Six of the current England squad – Root, Anderson, Broad, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes – were in the England squad held to a 1-1 series draw in 2015 on their last visit to the West Indies.
The Windies won a Test in England in 2017 when they had a similarly inexperienced line-up and England, themselves, have only won one series in the Caribbean in more than 50 years. However, the Windies have won only two of their last 15 Test series – against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh – and they will need both Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach to be at the top of their games in all three matches to put England’s strong batting line-up under pressure. The Windies own batting is the greatest area of concern for home supporters. Much will rely on Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer and a recalled Darren Bravo as there is little after that trio that should hold England up for long.
With the Ashes coming up, a failure to beat a team ranked five places below them in the Test rankings is almost inconceivable for a squad that is on a current high. Conditions will probably dictate whether England play two spinners and openers Rory Burns and Keaton Jennings will be under the spotlight to see how they cope with genuine pace but England should win the series, though maybe not as comfortably as one would imagine.
A 2-0 correct score in favour of the tourists is 4/1 with Ladbrokes. The West Indies are 9/1 with Betway to win the series and the same bookmaker will lay you 15/2 that the three-match series is drawn.
