West Indies (WI) and England (ENG) are set to face off in the opening ODI of their three-match series at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Thursday, October 31.
In their previous ODI series, the Caribbean team endured a 2-1 loss to Sri Lanka, which has left them striving to regain their confidence as they aim for a strong comeback. Similarly, England enters this series following a recent 1-2 Test series loss to Pakistan on their home ground, adding motivation for both teams to bounce back in this clash.
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium Pitch report
The surface at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua would most likely provide little lateral movement to pace bowlers early on with the new ball. As a result, top-order batters may find it easier to take advantage of the powerplay constraints and score against the new ball.
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However, run-scoring may become increasingly difficult as the ball ages. Pacers can be beneficial with their hard-length bowling, cutters, and change-ups, while spinners will have plenty of turn throughout the encounter.
The track might improve marginally for batting under the lights. Overall, the chasing teams have had more success in Antigua, winning 12 of 22 games. As a result, the team that wins the toss will most likely bowl first.