Washout leaves West Indies, England desperate for victory

Overview

West Indies v England
4th ODI
National Cricket Stadium, St. George’s, Guyana
Wednesday, 27 February, 9:30am local time, 1:30pm GMT

A washout in the third ODI was the last thing anyone wanted to see, neither team, each of whose chances of securing a series win diminished with a no-result, and certainly not the fans who have been able to enjoy a perhaps unexpectedly competitive and entertaining series.

For England, coming into the series as the ICC MRF Tyres No.1 ODI ranked team in the world, up against the team in ninth, anything less than a win would have been seen as disappointing. They now have no margin for error to achieve that feat, but in a way, that might serve them well in the long run. A few months out from a World Cup, experience in virtual knockouts could soon prove invaluable.

For West Indies, while they now need just one win to secure an eminently creditable draw, they too would have been desperate to claim the honours, which would be their first series win of any description since 2014. After their resurgent win in the second ODI, they would have gone into the third with the momentum. It is up to them to prove that that hasn’t been diminished by Monday’s damp squib.

Key players

**Adil Rashid (England):**It has been an odd series for England’s premier wrist-spinner. He went unused until well past the 30th over in the first ODI, with captain Eoin Morgan perhaps holding him back as Chris Gayle went on a rampage, but claimed three vital wickets after being introduced, and was England’s second most economical bowler in the second ODI, and bowled Gayle with a beautiful leg-spinner, but was only asked to bowl six overs.

With Ben Stokes out injured for the third ODI, and a doubt for the fourth, it is likely Rashid will get a full quota in the fourth game. Should he continue his good form, he will perhaps dissuade his skipper from giving him a spell in the future.

**Shimron Hetmyer (West Indies):**Hetmyer’s century in the second ODI was a joyous affair, the left-hander pacing his innings to perfection before reaching the all-important milestone for the fourth time in ODIs in the final over. It was an important knock too, with no-one else making it past 50, and this when the home side had left out a batsman in Nicholas Pooran in place of a bowler in Sheldon Cottrell.

The saluting left-armer claimed a brilliant five-for to scupper England’s chase, and has perhaps sealed his place for the rest of the series. While West Indies look a more balanced side with Carlos Brathwaite as a sixth rather than fifth bowling option, that does put the onus on at least one batsman to stand up and play a match-defining knock, rather than relying on contributions all the way down. On current evidence, Hetmyer looks as likely as anyone to take up the mantle.

Conditions

There is unfortunately, once again, a threat of rain, although it is by no means certain. Strong winds and a sandy, absorbent outfield means that as long as the showers aren’t persistent, some sort of game should be possible. Still, expect the toss-winner to bowl first in an attempt to appease the gods of Duckworth, Lewis and Stern

Squads

**Windies:**Jason Holder (c), Shai Hope (wk), Chris Gayle, John Campbell, Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Carlos Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse, Devendra Bishoo, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas, Nicholas Pooran, Fabian Allen, Andre Russell

**England:**Eoin Morgan (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Mark Wood, Alex Hales, Joe Denly, Chris Woakes, David Willey