Experimental England are on the verge of ending two-year wait for T20 series win ahead of third West Indies clash
- England have not won a T20 series of more than two completed matches in two years
- One threat to England’s bid this time was the Caribbean weather
- West Indies provide the opposition here for a sixth limited-overs match
An experimental England team found itself in unusual territory on Thursday: a win over the West Indies on a pitch named after the opponent’s coach would end the Twenty20 series with breathing space.
England have not won a bilateral T20 series with more than two completed matches for more than two years, dating back to the tour of Pakistan shortly before they became world champions for a second time, but emerged 2-0 ahead here in Gros Islet.
“It would be nice to do it sooner rather than later, so we’ll definitely try to do it here.” “From all reports it is a good batting wicket so hopefully there are a few runs for all our batters and bowlers can bowl and defend well,” said Jacob Bethell, whose maiden international half-century in the format was integral to the fact that England took the lead in the tournament. this five-match campaign.
However, one threat to England’s bid comes from the Caribbean weather, with a week of heavy rain taking its toll on the Daren Sammy Stadium outfield. Although England were able to conduct net drills mid-afternoon on Wednesday, vast expanses of the outfield resembled a swamp after the latest downpour and more showers were expected overnight.
Bethell from Warwickshire, 21, has excelled in familiar circumstances. Every run in an unbeaten 58 off 36 balls last Saturday in his native Barbados was cheered by 150 of his family and friends in the stands.
The English Jacob Bethell excelled in the familiar circumstances of his native Barbados
Everyone who ran with his unbeaten 58 off 36 balls was cheered on by 150 of his family and friends in the stands, as well as the England supporters
England were midway through a net training session on Wednesday afternoon, vast expanses of outfields resembling a swamp
“It was special that the stars aligned and I played a pretty big role in that game. To win, you have to have the whole family there, which has never happened before, at least live – everyone is usually watching on TV, but not live – and to actually play a key role in the game, it has to be quite close to the best memory of my career,” Bethell said.
“Pretty much everyone I knew growing up was there. So immediate family, all friends of immediate family, all children of immediate family and friends. It was really cool. Then I went to say hello to mom and dad, and what did it cost me to get back to the locker room? An hour!’
It is not just his peroxide locks that make Bethell stand out from the crowd of this new generation of international cricketers. His performances on the field have also attracted attention.
Last summer it was a 15-ball 50 in the Vitality Blast that caught the attention of the selectors, who with their choice of the left-hander for the upcoming Test tour of New Zealand – first revealed by Mail Sport – have placed more value on talent yet to be unlocked than its achievements to date. He still has a professional hundred and averages just 25 in first-class cricket.
But as a reserve batsman on tour, he is now a broken finger or an overnight bug away from a Test debut.
“I’m not sure what kind of playing opportunities there will be. Just to get selected in the squad and be around the likes of Ben Stokes and Joe Root – watch Harry Brook mind his business more, I really enjoyed seeing him this summer – will learn from them be very good and if there is an opportunity to play one day, I will strive to grab it with both hands,” he said.
More immediately, the West Indies provide the opposition for a sixth limited-overs match here. It is normal for teams with two numbers in a long series to consider changing their personnel and one option that England will have considered is to rest their record T20 wicket-taker Adil Rashid to accommodate younger leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed – yet one of those New Zealand players. next week.
However, it is believed that changes are more likely in the circumstances for the hosts, who made three changes on Sunday. More changes are in the pipeline as Alzarri Joseph – his walk-off protest ban has now ended – returns to the side alongside all-rounder Shamar Springer, who replaces the injured Andre Russell.