Heavy rain delays start of England’s first ODI against West Indies

Newly-appointed West Indies cricket team coach Stuart Law delivers a ball to a player during a practice session at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in St. John’s, Antigua, on Thursday. Every member of the squad saw action in the two warm-up games in St. Kitts and it would be no surprise should England do something similar in the ODIs proper. “We haven’t yet found one particular formula but are still looking”.

“So far, I’ve been selected in the limited-overs formats, so I hope to use it as a stepping stone to eventually playing Tests and, of course, help the team achieve the World cup qualification objective”.

However, they can not afford to think about the missing players, and need to concentrate on the upcoming ODI series, and especially the first ODI, where they will have to give their best by playing quality cricket.

Only last week, veteran batsman Marlon Samuels accused the WICB of playing hard ball with the rule after he was deemed ineligible for selection for upcoming one-day series against England, because he played only two games of the recently concluded Regional Super50.

A host of West Indies stars, including the likes of Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons and Marlon Samuels, are missing from the ODI squad – that trio all having starred in the ICC World Twenty20 triumph past year.

Kieran Powell, making a comeback in three years will be opening with Evin Lewis. England will look for redemption as they go up against the Caribbeans. The hosts will be eyeing to reverse a run of poor form if the pitch turn out to be slow and spin friendly as the English batsmen have tended to struggle on in recent times. But the nagging sense is that, unless the surfaces turn events into a low-scoring scrap, England’s superior power and experience should give the travelling supporters – expected to outnumber the locals – more to cheer about. “But we’re looking to make a mark on the worldwide circuit”.

England: The visitors’ one-day team is largely settled but there are two areas where decisions have to be made.

England were as published and set to bat first in this first match of three, with Sam Billings confirmed to open alongside Jason Roy.

Then there is Tom Curran, whisked away from the England Lions tour of Sri Lanka to join the squad in the Caribbean as cover for Ball. While he played only one match during West Indies’ title run at the 2012 World T20, he was picked in the next edition as the side’s designated opener and scored 125 runs in five matches.

The absence of all but Carlos Brathwaite from last year’s World Twenty20-winning side has much been discussed in the lead up to the series – “It’s gone”.

The Surrey fast bowler, 21, will not play on Friday given he arrived in Antigua less than 24 hours previously.

“So that’s our main focus really at this stage”.