ENG v WI, 4th ODI Preview: Must win situation for visitors, England target series win

West Indies can achieve any target with the power that they have in their batting but they seldom calculate their charge during monumental chases. In Bristol, they fell 124 runs short but had 65 balls unused as they were bowled out in the 40th over. In the end, the hosts gained an unbeatable 2-0 lead on the back of a fine 124-run win.

The crowds were thoroughly entertained when Moeen Ali got stuck into the visitor’s hapless bowling attack, scoring the second fastest ODI hundred in the history of England cricket. It was his fun-filled innings which was the difference between both sides in the end. Liam Plunkett picked his maiden ODI five-wicket haul almost 12 years after making his ODI debut. Incidentally, it was his first five-for in List A cricket as well.

England received a shocking news on Tuesday when their star all-rounder Ben Stokes was arrested for an incident in Bristol. Opener Alex Hales was also present at the time and both will not feature in the game on Wednesday.

West Indies’ over-reliance on Chris Gayle was exposed the other day. Apart from the Jamaican’s quick-fire 94, no other batsmen crossed the 50 run mark. They need someone to bat sensibly in the middle overs in order to propel the side towards a challenging total on the board. The series is on the line and it is a must-win game for the Holder-led side at The Oval in London.

Toss: England won the toss and elected to field

Playing XI

Windies: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope(w), Marlon Samuels, Jason Mohammed, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder(c), Ashley Nurse, Jerome Taylor, Alzarri Joseph, Miguel Cummins

England: Jonny Bairstow, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan(c), Jos Buttler(w), Sam Billings, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Jake Ball

Focus will be on

Eoin Morgan

While Morgan has been in prolific form in ODIs in 2017, the English captain has run in a bit of a rut of late. In his last 10 professional innings, Morgan has posted scores of 0, 10, 2, 2, 2, 5, 0, 1 and 0. That is just 22 runs in 9 innings at an average of 2.44. Seldom only has a proper batsman had an extended rut like what Morgan is facing at the moment. He has scored just 12 runs in 2 innings in this ODI series so far, the rest single-digit scores are divided between his appearance in the CPL and the NatWest Blast T20. This is the kind of form when you are literally wondering where your next run is coming from. The feet start to shake while facing the initial few deliveries at the start of an innings. Morgan has a stupendous average of 47.62 this year, which dropped by 6 points following his two low scores in the series. It has been a consistent year for the southpaw with the bat but because of his recent poor run, he will be under pressure whenever he comes out to bat in the fourth ODI.

Shai Hope

After playing the innings of his life at Headingley, Hope has scored just the solitary fifty in his next four innings. His heroics in Leeds have prompted people to expect a lot from the 23-year old. He was involved in a decent partnership with Gayle the other day but was soon making his way back to the pavilion for just 20. His ODI record is better than his Test one and Hope needs to produce a telling innings in order to keep his side in contention in the series. Hope doubles up in the ODIs as he also keeps wicket but he must not wander too far away from his primary objective, which is to get runs with the bat. The right-hander should be the one to control the innings in the middle overs and bat till the end in order to ensure that his side ends up with a healthy total on the board.

Playing Combinations

England

The home side is expected to go in with the same team. Fresh from his maiden ODI hundred at the Old Trafford, Jonny Bairstow will open the innings with Jason Roy, who will get another opportunity to shine in the absence of Alex Hales. Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, and Jos Butler form a very formidable middle order which can give a run for the money even against the best in the world. Moeen Ali has played the all-rounder’s role exceedingly this summer irrespective of the format. Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett, and Adil Rashid are certainties for this encounter. England might ponder over excluding Tom Curran or Jake Ball instead of David Wiley, who was expensive the other night. Since Stokes wont take part in this clash, Tom Curran Looks likely to make his ODI debut in London

West Indies

Evin Lewis and Chris Gayle will open the innings yet again for the visitors. Marlon Samuels, Shai Hope and Jason Mohammed form a decent middle order for the West Indies. Rovman Powell and Jason Holder will play the all-rounder’s role in the XI and bat at No. 6 and 7. Ashley Nurse and Devendra Bishoo will be the spin partners while Jerome Taylor will be the leading pace bowler along with Holder. West Indies might play Kesrick Williams instead of the struggling Cummins in this clash.

Stat Attack

10 – Years since the last time West Indies won an ODI against England in their own backyard. They have lost 6 games on the bounce since then.

60 – Runs required by Joe Root to complete 4,000 ODI runs. He will be the 10th Englishman to achieve this feat.

2 – Wickets required by Moeen Ali to complete 50 ODI wickets.