Utilita Bowl, Southampton – West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and elected to bowl first in the third and final T20I against England, aiming to secure their first victory of what has been a challenging tour. The visitors, trailing 2-0 in the series, made one forced change, with Shimron Hetmyer replacing Roston Chase, who failed a late fitness test.
Hope expressed confidence in his team’s ability to chase, citing the stable conditions expected throughout the match.
“It looks like it’s not going to change much, so we’re going to back ourselves to chase,” Hope said. “The win is the biggest thing here. We want to continue growing as a team. We haven’t won a game on this tour.”
England’s stand-in skipper Harry Brook admitted he would have also chosen to bowl first but remained optimistic about setting a competitive total and maintaining England’s dominance. The hosts fielded an unchanged XI from their victory in Bristol, emphasizing their intent to complete a series whitewash.
“We’ve been speaking about it a lot—we want to start nailing teams down into the ground,” Brook stated. “We want to win these series without them winning a game. People say winning is a habit, and that’s something we can keep going up to that World Cup next year.”
West Indies Seek Redemption After Disappointing Tour
The West Indies have struggled throughout their England tour, losing the ODI series 2-1 before suffering back-to-back defeats in the T20Is. With their women’s team also being swept in the preceding series, the men’s side will be desperate to salvage some pride before heading to Ireland for another three-match T20I series.
Key Talking Points
- West Indies’ Batting Concerns – Despite flashes of brilliance from players like Evin Lewis and Rovman Powell, the visitors have lacked consistency. The inclusion of Hetmyer adds firepower, but the middle order must deliver under pressure.
- England’s Ruthless Approach – Under Brook’s leadership, England have been clinical, with contributions from Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, and Adil Rashid proving decisive. Their unchanged lineup signals confidence in the current combination.
- Bowling Battle – West Indies’ pace attack, led by Alzarri Joseph and Jason Holder, will look to exploit any early swing, while England’s spinners (Rashid and Liam Dawson) could play a crucial role in the middle overs.
Playing XIs
England:
- Jamie Smith
- Ben Duckett
- Jos Buttler (wk)
- Harry Brook (capt)
- Tom Banton
- Jacob Bethell
- Will Jacks
- Liam Dawson
- Brydon Carse
- Adil Rashid
- Matthew Potts
West Indies:
- Johnson Charles
- Evin Lewis
- Shai Hope (capt & wk)
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Rovman Powell
- Sherfane Rutherford
- Romario Shepherd
- Jason Holder
- Akeal Hosein
- Gudakesh Motie
- Alzarri Joseph
Conclusion
With pride and momentum at stake, the third T20I promises an exciting contest. Can West Indies finally break their losing streak, or will England continue their dominance? Tune in to find out!
