Get Ready for One Perfect Day at The Ageas Bowl
Jimmy Anderson is likely to spearhead the attack in the ODI Series
Match preview ahead of England's NatWest Series One Day International against the West Indies at The Ageas Bowl on Saturday
England v West Indies
NatWest Series One-Day International
Saturday 16 June (10:45AM start)
The Ageas Bowl
England face the West Indies in the first NatWest Series One Day International of the summer at The Ageas Bowl this Saturday [16 June]. They’ll be full of confidence, coming into the contest on the back of a 2-0 Test series win over the tourists as well as a 4-0 white-wash of the Pakistanis in their last ODI Series in the United Arab Emirates over the winter.
England will have to do without Kevin Pietersen, who struck two centuries in that series in the UAE, following his retirement from international One Day and Twenty20 Cricket; Ian Bell has been named as his replacement. The hosts do, however, have another double-centurion from that series in captain Alastair Cook. He hit 323 runs against Pakistan at an average of 80.75.
And continuing the theme of double-centurions, Eoin Morgan returns to the ground where he struck two unbeaten centuries in 2010.
Indeed, England’s record at The Ageas Bowl is good, winning five of the seven One Day games held on the ground. They are yet to lose the first match of any One Day series held at The Ageas Bowl or when they have batted last.
However, the West Indies will not make it easy for Cook’s side. Returning for the One Day series is powerful batsman Chris Gayle, who will end his 15-month International exile at The Ageas Bowl and breathe new life into the West Indian side.
The hard hitting all-rounder comes into the series on the back of a fruitful Indian Premier League stint in which he became the first man to score more than 700 runs in a single edition of the tournament.
Also returning from the IPL for the tourists are Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell.
Pollard will provide more fireworks with both bat and ball while Narine offers his mystery off-spin which recently took both the Australians and the IPL by storm.
In their most recent One Dayers the West Indies drew 2-2 with Australia on home soil – a Series in which Narine and Johnson Charles made names for themselves.
The West Indies also have a solid record at The Ageas Bowl; yet to taste defeat, they’ve won two of their three matches there. However, they are yet to play England in West End.
Full Squads:
ENGLAND: Alastair Cook (Captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott
WEST INDIES: Darren Sammy (captain), Dwayne Bravo (vice-captain), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin (wicketkeeper), Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith.
Live Event Information:
In the case of any disruptions to play The Ageas Bowl has its own Twitter feed - @TheAgeasBowl - which is updated throughout these events, providing up-to-date information and help direct from the club to the public.
This could be to let you know when the next umpire's inspection will be, whether an event is cancelled and what to do if you think you deserve a refund.
It will also provide helpful information you might want to know such as where the toilets are based around the ground, how and where to get food and where to park your car.
The best thing is, you don't even need to be a Twitter user to get the most from this! If you have access to the internet while at the ground (perhaps on a smart phone), you can simply visit click here and this will take you direct to our feed.
Want the information to come to you? To get text alerts sent direct to your mobile phone, you can simply text "FOLLOW @TheAgeasBowl" to 86444 and you will receive regular live updates sent direct to your mobile while in the ground.
Weather Forecast:
Cloudy with some showers
Tickets:
Tickets for this match are EXTREMELY LIMITED. Book now to avoid disappointment by clicking here, calling 0800 197 4404 to book over the phone or visiting the Ageas Bowl Ticket Office (Mon-Fri 9am -5pm).
Corporate hospitality options are still available for this match. Email Lisa Catlin at theageasbowl@keithprowse.co.uk or call 023 8047 5660 (Mon-Fri 9am -5pm) to book.
