After the highly entertaining first ODI on Wednesday, the Kensington Oval will host the second ODI as well, and England will be looking to capitalize on their impressive victory in the opening game against a West Indies side in transition.
With a top order boasting the likes of Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, and Jason Roy, England are set to come out all guns blazing against a West Indies bowling attack that relies heavily on pace and bounce - a throwback to their golden era.
West Indies only have a handful of games left as part of their 2019 World Cup preparations and they will be looking to bounce back against the number one ranked ODI team.
Squads to choose from:
West Indies:
Jason Holder(C), Chris Gayle, Shai Hope, Darren Bravo, John Campbell, Shimron Hetmyer, Carlos Brathwaite, Fabian Allen, Ashley Nurse, Nicolas Pooran, Devendra Bishoo, Oshane Thomas, Kemar Roach and Sheldon Cottrell.
England:
Eoin Morgan(C), Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, Joe Denly, David Willey, Tom Curran and Liam Plunkett
Playing XI Updates:
West Indies:
The Windies should field the same side, meaning more chances for the likes of Nicolas Pooran and John Campbell, who made their debuts in the first ODI. Campbell's off-spin also comes in handy, with the youngster filling in as the sixth bowling option. Kemar Roach wasn't considered in the previous ODI and could remain on the sidelines with Oshane Thomas performing fairly well.
Possible XI: Gayle, Campbell, Hope(WK), Bravo, Hetmyer, Pooran, Holder(C), Brathwaite, Nurse, Bishoo and Thomas.
England:
No changes are expected in the English camp. In Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali, they have one of the most successful spin duos since 2015 and the two will once again be crucial in the middle overs.
Mark Wood has found a new lease of life, with a longer run-up resulting in an increase in pace. He is one to keep an eye on along with the usual suspects, Liam Plunkett and Chris Woakes.
Possible XI: Roy, Bairstow, Root, Morgan(C), Stokes, Buttler(WK), Ali, Woakes, Rashid, Plunkett, and Wood
Fantasy Tips and Suggestions:
Wicket-keeper: Both Shai Hope and Jos Buttler are great options to have considering their form and the nature of the pitch. Hope scored an impressive fifty in the first ODI and could well back it up with another good performance on Friday.
Batsmen: Joe Root and Chris Gayle are must-haves in the fantasy side. Gayle returned to the national set-up with a sensational hundred and could well continue his good form on Friday. Roy or Bairstow would be a great option considering their explosiveness at the top of the order while one of Hetmyer and Bravo could also bring in vital points due to their big-hitting abilities.
All-rounders: Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes were the standout bowlers in the first game, controlling the flow of runs while their teammates were handed a spanking by Chris Gayle. Both of them should make the side along with inspirational captain, Jason Holder. His swing bowling up front could yield a wicket or two and he could also add valuable points with his pinch-hitting lower down the order.
Bowlers: Adil Rashid was surprisingly held back by Eoin Morgan as Chris Gayle was in his element but still managed to pick a couple of wickets to keep the Windies run-rate down in the death overs. He is one of England's go-to bowlers, making him an invaluable selection in the fantasy side as well. Along with him, the likes of Oshane Thomas, Devendra Bishoo and Ashley Nurse are also viable options.
Captain: Ben Stokes was impressive in the first ODI and seems to have sprung back to form. He is one of the front-runners for captaincy, with the likes of Joe Root and Shai Hope in the running as well. On a flat pitch, both top order batsmen should be able to rake in valuable points with their ability to play a long and productive innings.
Fantasy Suggestion #1: Shai Hope(WK), Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Chris Gayle, Darren Bravo, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Jason Holder, Adil Rashid, Oshane Thomas and Ashley Nurse. Captain: Ben Stokes
Fantasy Suggestion #2: Jos Buttler(WK), Joe Root, Jason Roy, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Ben Stokes, Jason Holder, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Devendra Bishoo and Oshane Thomas. Captain: Joe Root
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