For the fifth time in less than three years, England has suffered a series defeat in the Caribbean. Despite the constant talk about the decline of cricket in the region, it is England who continue to struggle here. On paper, this is a devastating loss for England, marked by a 209-run partnership that saw Brandon King and Keacy Carty both score centuries, securing the West Indies their second eight-wicket victory in the series. However, there are mitigating factors to consider.
The team is notably inexperienced, and they lost a crucial toss before the series decider at Kensington Oval. The conditions in Barbados were particularly challenging during the first 25 overs, only to become more favorable as the floodlights came on and dew settled in Bridgetown. Despite their 13th ODI loss in the past 20 matches, now is not the time for harsh criticism. While England may be worried about their lack of threat with the ball, their batting showed resilience after a disastrous start.
Will Jacks, Jordan Cox, Jacob Bethell, and Liam Livingstone all fell early, leaving the tourists at 24 for four. Jacks and Livingstone were caught behind, Bethell was brilliantly caught at backward point, and Cox faced a difficult debut tour, scoring 17, four, and one in three matches. However, crisis often brings opportunity, and with their backs against the wall, Phil Salt delivered the patient innings he had yet to showcase in an England shirt. Alongside Sam Curran, Salt began England's rescue mission.
Two days prior, Salt had stated his goal in the ODI team was to "lower the strike-rate and boost the average." He did precisely that, scoring 74 off 108 balls, a performance entirely different from the rest of his career. Similarly, Sam Curran (40) and Dan Mousley (57) impressed with their patient, "smarter innings," as their captain Liam Livingstone had urged after the first ODI. Salt's slow but steady approach to saving England was abruptly altered by a freak injury to Romario Shepherd.
In the 42nd over, Shepherd's spikes caught in the ground, causing him to fall and eventually be helped off the field due to cramps. The West Indies, relying on only five bowlers, had no choice but to use part-time medium pacer Sherfane Rutherford from the Malcolm Marshall End for the remainder of the innings. England capitalized, scoring 57 runs off Rutherford's 3.5 overs, with his final two overs yielding 19 and 25 runs respectively. Jofra Archer particularly thrived, hitting three sixes in a crucial 38 off 17 balls.
However, England's joy was short-lived. Jamie Overton, replacing Saqib Mahmood, managed to dismiss Evin Lewis, but aside from Reece Topley's late dismissal of King, they struggled to make further inroads. The ineffectiveness of Archer and Adil Rashid throughout the series is particularly concerning. Both are considered key players in England's 50-over XI, yet Rashid finished with three wickets at over six runs per over, and Archer claimed just one wicket in three matches.
Under the lights in Barbados, it was King and Carty who dominated. Carty, who made history in 2022 as the first cricketer from St. Maarten to represent the West Indies, played his finest innings to date, scoring his maiden international century. As the match tilted in the home team's favor, Carty hit four boundaries in five balls, including powerful shots off Livingstone. King, meanwhile, scored his third ODI century but his first against England, just five balls after Carty.
Both players entered the series under pressure but left as centurions, their match-winning partnership securing yet another series victory for the West Indies over England.
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