Match Preview: 1st ODI - England v West Indies

England v West Indies

Date: 06 June 2019

Fischer County Ground, Grace Road, Leicester

England takes on West Indies in the first ODI of the series at Leicester. With ICC Women’s Championship points at stake, both teams have something riding on this series. For England, they need just two points to ensure their place at the World Cup in New Zealand in 2021.

With an Ashes series following straight after there will be players looking to book their place in the side for the showdown with the Australians next month West Indies sit in seventh in the table but with games in hand over the sides above them.

A series victory would be useful for West Indies. Their job will be made that much harder without Deandra Dottin their inspirational allrounder.

Players to watch out for

Natalie Sciver

When Sciver visited this ground in the2017 ICC World Cup she smashed 137 from 92 balls against Pakistan. It announced to the world what a quality batter Sciver is.

Over the winter Sciver has also proven that she is capable of leading the bowling attack when more experienced players are unavailable.

Hayley Matthews

The West Indian allrounder has spent time playing cricket in the WBBL with England players Alex Hartley and Heather Knight. This will add to a friendly rivalry.

Matthews is an opening batter who is able to hit to all parts of the ground. When she gets a start she is one of the best players to watch.

When you add to her game her off-spin bowling there is little chance of keeping the Barbadian out of the game.

Conditions

Since the 2017 World Cup, there has only been one Women's ODI at Grace Road. In that game, New Zealand chased down 220 with ease as Sophie Devine hit a magnificent hundred.

In general, you will get value for your shots with the boundaries at each end of the ground being relatively short.

Numbers to look out for

Tammy Beaumont needs 14 more runs to go to 2000 ODI runs for England. She is also England's highest run scorer in this cycle of the Women's ICC Championship with 678 runs at 45.2.

Hayley Matthews is 20 runs short of a thousand ODI runs for West Indies.

Probable XI

England: Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont, Sarah Taylor (wk), Heather Knight (c), Lauren Winfield, Nat Sciver, Danni Wyatt, Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole, Sophie Ecclestone, Laura Marsh

West Indies: Kycia Knight (wk), Hayley Matthews, Stafanie Taylor (c), Natasha McLean, Shemaine Campbelle, Chedean Nation, Chinelle Henry, Afy Fletcher, Shakera Selman, Shamilia Connell, Karishma Ramharack