It has been 117 days since any International cricket action has taken place. England and West Indies will break the long hiatus when both the teams will get back on the ground in the opening Test of three-match series at Rose Bowl, Southampton. No doubt it is going to be different with the new rules but at least it’s finally back and we all will get to see it on our TV sets.
West Indies had stunned England back in 2019 when they regained the Wisden trophy after defeating the three Lions at home by 2-1. However, it is going to be a different ball game altogether as England will be playing in its own conditions.
The hosts will be favourites but they won’t like to take the visitors lightly. England will be without the services of their full-time captain, Joe Root, who will miss the match due to the birth of his second child. Ergo, Ben Stokes will lead England for the first time in his career.
West Indies have a decent bowling line-up but they lack the experience in their batting order. The batsmen like Shai Hope and Kraigg Brathwaite will hold the key for the tourists. Both of these batters had taken West Indies to an emphatic win in the Headingley Test in 2017 and thus would aim to be at the top of their game.
Shannon Gabriel has been added to the squad and he is going to bring power to the side. Kemar Roach is the most experienced and a lot would be expected of him. Oshane Thomas has the pace under his arsenal and he can be a thorn in the flesh for the England batsmen.
On the other hand, England will feel the void in the middle order as there will be no Joe Root. However, Ollie Pope is expected to bat at number four as the right-hander had scored a fifty in the warm-up match for Team Buttler.
England also has an inexperienced batting order and thus Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler will hold the key. However, there is an opportunity to grab for the youngsters.
Stuart Broad might warm the benches as the hosts could back Mark Wood and Jofra Archer in the squad along with veteran pacer James Anderson. Wood and Archer had both impressed in the warm-up and they will bring extra pace to the table. Dom Bess, who bowled economically in the intra-squad match could be the solitary spinner in the England side.
Date and Venue: 8-12 July, 2020, Rose Bowl, Southampton.
Pitch Conditions: The curator might leave a bit of grass on the wicket given the saliva ban. In fact, Rose Bowl is known to help the batsmen but there could be help for the bowlers on the opening day when the pitch will be fresh.
England’s Predicted XI: Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Denly, Ben Stokes (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Dom Bess, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, James Anderson.
West Indies Predicted XI: Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Shai Hope, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood, Shane Dowrich (WK), Jason Holder (C), Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph, Shannon Gabriel.
Weather Conditions: No rain is expected to play killjoy in the first Test but it would be partly cloudy. The temperature is going to be around 20 degree celsius.
Match Prediction: England will be favourites as they know their own conditions and have a better side. The English team had also defeated South Africa recently and they would be confident of drawing first blood in the series.
