ENG vs WI, 2025: England vs West Indies, 1st ODI Match Preview

The season of international cricket has started to gain some steam, as England (ENG) prepare to play a three-match ODI series against the West Indies (WI). The first ODI will take place on 29 May at Edgbaston, in Birmingham, and will feature some incredible and talented players in the mix.

Young Yorkshire and upcoming England batter Harry Brook will be leading the English side in the series. The England ODI squad includes several exciting young players such as Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Tom Banton, Jamie Smith, and Matthew Potts, who are regarded as the next generation of stars in the England team.

This will be a challenge for Brook, knowing he will be leading a side filled with many inexperienced players. However, he will also receive assistance from seasoned players such as Joe Root, Jos Buttler, and Adil Rashid, whose guidance will be important during his reign as England’s new white-ball skipper.

Speaking of the West Indies team, their squad might be more experienced than the hosts, but their underwhelming ODI series against Ireland could hinder their confidence going into the series against England. The series against Ireland ended in a 1–1 draw. None of the West Indian players have consistently performed in the ODI format so far, which is a worrying factor for the Shai Hope-led side.

Stars like Shai Hope, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Alzarri Joseph, and Evin Lewis need to be at their best in the upcoming series. Though they have some young and talented players in Keacy Carty and Jayden Seales, all eyes will be on the experienced players, especially in the challenging English conditions.

Match Details

Pitch Report

The surface at Edgbaston has generally been two-paced, which has favoured batting in the majority of matches. However, there are phases in the game where the old ball starts reversing, making it tough for batters to counter-attack during the middle overs. Despite many high-scoring encounters, the pitch poses a dilemma for captains deciding whether to bat or field first.

Head-to-Head record

Predicted Playing XI’s

England:

Ben Duckett, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Jos Buttler (wk), Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Brydon Carse, Saqib Mahmood.

West Indies:

Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keacy Carty,  Shai Hope (c/wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales.