West Indies Men’s team are heading to Cardiff for the second ODI against England licking their wounds after suffering a crushing defeat in the opener.
Shai Hope’s men were on the receiving end of a comprehensive battering at Edgbaston in Birmingham and will need to have a serious upturn in performance to have any chance of playing themselves back into the 3-match series.
England totally dominated from start to finish as both sides looked to get their one-day form back on track with one eye on the next World Cup in 2027.
The game in South Wales takes place on Sunday 1 June, before what the West Indies hope will be a decider two days later at the Oval.
World Cup comes into focus
The Edgbaston clash was Harry Brook’s first as England’s new white-ball captain, in a series that could have long-term implications for both sides with regards to the ODI World Cup taking place in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2027.
Only the top eight teams in the ICC ODI rankings in the March of that year will advance directly to the tournament and at present England sit in eighth, with the West Indies in ninth.
With the unpredictable Bangladeshi’s currently sitting in tenth spot, it means that neither side can really afford to lose the series, taking into account the damage it would do to their already precarious ranking position.
The West Indies missed out last time at the 2023 tournament, so will be desperate to guarantee a top eight slot.
Split loyalties
One player who went into the first match with a few mixed emotions would have been England’s Jacob Bethell, that is because he could quite easily have been the West Indies Jacob Bethell instead.
The immensely talented 21-year-old was actually born in Barbados, so had the option of playing for either nation.
Captain of the West Indies, Shai Hope has been aware of the ability possessed by Bethell for several years now, since first noticing him in an Under-15 game.
“He always looked like a quality player and seeing what he has done, he is certainly a formidable talent and can go a very long way,” before quickly adding with a smile: “I’m happy for him, but we’re enemies this time.”
