Image Credit- Getty
Talk about paradise becoming once again a bloody day.
After losing the World Cup, England came to Antigua hoping to start a new
chapter in their one-day cricket career. However, they were given a rude
awakening by a fierce batting performance by the West Indies, which was
highlighted by Shai Hope’s brilliant century, which was inspired by MS Dhoni.
Other notable contributions included unrestricted single figures from Alick
Athanaze and Romario Shepherd.
With two matches remaining in the ODI series, England
has already experienced a sense of advantage over its opponents. This is not
the first time that things have gone against plan for the team in the
Caribbean. While they still have a long way to go before competing at the world
level in 2027, West Indies, who were humiliated by Zimbabwe, the Netherlands,
and Scotland in their World Cup qualifier earlier this year, have a lot of room
to make up.
After all, this team was without two potentially
important players—Jason Holder and Nicholas Pooran—and the build-up was
overshadowed by yet another typical controversy regarding selection. After the
game started, they overcame a dismal beginning with the ball to stop England
from winning, and they then produced another incredible comeback from 213 for 5
in the 39th over—still requiring 113 from 68 balls—to keep England from
absolutely winning.
In the meantime, England still has a lot to consider
with a format that has unexpectedly escaped their grasp, much like a beached
inflatable carried by a strong wind. More than three months after England
started their ODI World Cup preparations against New Zealand at
Chester-le-Street (three days after Buttler’s Manchester Originals were beaten
finalists in the Hundred), Jos Buttler came across as the bowler-hatted dog in
the “This Is Fine” meme. Despite his praise for the positives in
defeat, Buttler looked like a man who could use some real beach time.
This series is also England’s last ODI commitment
until September 2024, by which time – post T20 World Cup – we might be talking
about the reboot to the reboot. Buttler, in particular, needs to feel the sun
on his shoulders and the wind at his back. As ever, such things can’t be taken
for granted by an English cricketer in the Caribbean.