Tuesday, November 5, 2024

T20 World Cup: England expect ‘cauldron’ against West Indies in St Lucia

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They chanted as the Afghan bowlers ran in for each ball to be flogged by Nicholas Pooran and then as fast bowler Alzarri Joseph charged through a hostile spell, all while the local band played with the smell of jerk chicken in the air.

England played West Indies in the Caribbean over five matches at the end of 2023, losing 3-2.

In that series they had the backing of their Sweet Caroline-singing support, who had travelled for some winter sun.

This time they have already discussed how best to deal with an atmosphere they expect to be a “cauldron”.

“We have not played in front of an opposition crowd for a long time now,” bowler Reece Topley said on Tuesday.

“The West Indies will hopefully be trying to get their own back for our fans who were so incredible in November.

“They will try to rally them and create a cauldron of an atmosphere. It is going to be incredible.”

The match will be played on the same pitch where West Indies piled up 218-5 against Afghanistan – the highest score so far in a World Cup that has often favoured bowlers.

Pooran looked at home in making a sublime 98 but it is a true, quick surface that should also suit England’s six-hitters far more than the slow tracks of their previous games in Barbados and Antigua.

“It might be time to take a bit of medicine,” added Topley.

“[The bowlers] might be in the business of problem solving now. Things are a bit more complicated but the mission is the same.”

England have selection questions with Liam Livingstone struggling to make the XI.

He has still not bowled since his side injury, suffered against Namibia on Saturday, and, although the problem is said to have improved, Livingstone has now been struck down by illness.

Bowler Chris Jordan is another to have been hit by the same bug.

If fit enough, Jordan’s death-bowling skills could see him pip Mark Wood in selection, given another high-scoring match is expected.

If England recall Will Jacks – dropped from the side because of the shortened nature of the rain-affected win over Namibia – they must decide whether they stumbled on something in his absence, with Jonny Bairstow and Harry Brook both batting a place higher in the order.

A win would put England in a prime position to compete at the semi-final stage again, with matches against South Africa and the USA to follow within five days.

It is a period that will tell us just where England are at.

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