Windies must dig deep to stay in touch

The unlikely possibility of a direct entry to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 done and dusted, Windies doesn't have much time to ponder over its immediate future in the One-Day International format.

For, just two days after their seven-wicket loss to England in the first ODI, Jason Holder's men have the more immediate task of taking on the formidable host once again, in the second game at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Thursday (September 21).

England is undoubtedly the superior side in the one-day format. Going into the five-match series after losing the lone Twenty20 International of the tour, England got into the groove straightaway with a clinical display to which Windies had no answer at Old Trafford in Manchester on Tuesday.

It first restricted the visitor to just 204 for 9 in 42 overs, the game shortened by a wet outfield, before coasting to victory with seven wickets and nearly 12 overs to spare.

The only phase of play where Windies seemed in the game was in the first five overs when Evin Lewis and Chris Gayle shared a 45-run opening stand before the former was dismissed. Gayle, returning to the format for the first time since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, showed glimpses of his best days with a 27-ball 37 but once he fell in the eighth over, Windies never managed momentum.

The visitor is unlikely to make major changes in personnel but probably should in its approach. Marlon Samuels in particular needs to show more intent in the middle order, having managed only a 46-ball 17 at No. 4. Holder later added some valuable runs down the order, but it was too little and far too late.

England, by contrast, seems to have everything going its way. Its biggest change for the game - Jonny Bairstow opening in place of Jason Roy - worked wonders. Bairstow coasted to his maiden ODI ton and sealed a spot for himself at the top of the order while Joe Root as always remained consistent. Windies' bowling was, as the margin of loss suggests, largely ineffective despite the presence of Jerome Taylor.

The end result was an easy victory, which was pretty much what was expected of Eoin Morgan's men. For Windies to turn the tide, it has to ensure that it stretches its good phases for longer periods. Importantly, it will have to do so in quick time.

Teams (from):

England: Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes.

Windies: Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Miguel Cummins, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder (capt), Kyle Hope, Shai Hope (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Kesrick Williams.