Cricket

England's Phil Salt Shines with Unbeaten Century in T20I Series Opener Victory over West IndiesIn the opening match of the five-match T20I series in Barbados, England secured an impressive eight-wicket victory over West Indies on Saturday, thanks to a scintillating century from opener Phil Salt.Batting first, West Indies posted a challenging total of 183 runs, with Gudakesh Motie and Romario Shepherd contributing crucial runs in the latter stages of the innings. However, England's chase was anchored by Salt's unbeaten 103 off just 54 deliveries, which included six towering sixes.Salt's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, as he dominated the West Indies bowling attack. He was ably supported by Jacob Bethell, who made his T20I debut and contributed a valuable 50 runs.England's victory was also aided by the return of Saqib Mahmood, who impressed with figures of 3 for 24. Mahmood's wickets helped restrict West Indies' scoring and put England in a strong position.Despite an aggressive batting approach, West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals. A ninth-wicket partnership of 49 runs between Shepherd and Motie provided some late impetus, but it was not enough to prevent England from securing a comfortable victory.England captain Jos Buttler, returning from injury, was dismissed for a golden duck in his first match since November. However, Salt's heroics ensured that England's batting lineup remained unfazed.With the win, England takes a 1-0 lead in the series. The two teams will meet again at the same venue on Sunday, with England aiming to extend their advantage and West Indies looking to level the series.

England have won the toss and elected to field first in the opening T20I against West Indies in Barbados. The match marks the start of England's final white-ball series of the year, following their 2-1 ODI series loss to the hosts.England are looking to bounce back from their ODI disappointment and will be boosted by the return of captain Jos Buttler, who has been sidelined for five months with a calf injury. Buttler will bat at No. 3 and relinquish the wicketkeeping gloves to Phil Salt.Dan Mousley will make his T20I debut after scoring a maiden international fifty in the deciding ODI. Jofra Archer is out of the side after playing three ODIs in a row, with Jamie Overton, Saqib Mahmood, and Reece Topley comprising England's seam-bowling attack."Looking forward to it," Buttler said of captaining from the field as opposed to behind the stumps. "A different view point, another thing taken off my plate so I can focus on the captaincy and the team."West Indies are without quick Alzarri Joseph, who is serving a two-match ban for storming off the pitch in a temper during the third and final ODI. They have opted for two spinners in Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie.Rovman Powell, their captain, said at the toss: "It's a case of whether you bat or bowl first, you've got to do it well. In years gone by we were just looking to compete as a West Indies team, now we're looking to beat sides in bilateral series."

Jos Buttler, England's white-ball captain, has returned to the scene of his World Cup disappointments with a renewed sense of purpose. Five months ago in Barbados, England's World Cup campaign ended in a disappointing defeat to Australia, with Buttler's tactical decisions coming under scrutiny.However, Buttler has revealed that he feared losing his captaincy after England's consecutive World Cup failures. He had candid conversations with Rob Key, the ECB's managing director of men's cricket, and expressed his desire to continue leading the team. Key's belief in Buttler's abilities has given him the confidence to move forward.Buttler's captaincy has been marked by emotional highs and lows. His face often betrays his feelings, and he has admitted that the pressure of leadership has weighed heavily on him. However, a calf injury that sidelined him for four months has given him time to reflect and reassess his priorities.The appointment of Brendon McCullum as head coach has also provided Buttler with a fresh perspective. McCullum's experience as New Zealand's white-ball captain has inspired Buttler, who believes that this stage of his career can be the most rewarding.Buttler is now determined to play as much as possible and help develop the next generation of English white-ball cricketers. He has dropped wicketkeeping for the T20 series against West Indies to experiment with his preferred captaincy position.Winning will be important, but Buttler's primary focus is on creating an environment where players can flourish. He wants to see young players like Jacob Bethell and Dan Mousley seize their opportunities and contribute to English cricket's future success.

England's white-ball woes have been well-documented since their disappointing World Cup semi-final exit in 2023. With a new era dawning under Brendon McCullum, the T20I series against West Indies presents an opportunity for redemption.Jos Buttler, who missed the recent ODI series due to injury, will make his long-awaited return as captain. His presence will provide stability and experience to a squad that has been plagued by inconsistency. England's batting lineup boasts the likes of Liam Livingstone, Will Jacks, and Dan Mousley, who will look to provide fireworks.West Indies, too, have their own scars from the T20 World Cup, where they failed to reach the semi-finals despite strong form. They have since regrouped and will be eager to prove their worth against a formidable England side. The return of Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran, and Shimron Hetmyer will bolster their batting lineup, while Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie will provide spin options.The series will be played at Kensington Oval, a high-scoring venue that favors both batters and bowlers. The weather forecast predicts a hot day with a chance of showers, which could add an element of unpredictability.England will be keen to start their white-ball rebuild on a positive note, while West Indies will be determined to show that they remain a force to be reckoned with in the shortest format. The series promises to be a fascinating contest between two teams with a point to prove.

West Indies have bolstered their T20I squad with the return of key players Akeal Hosein, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, and Andre Russell for the upcoming series against England. The quartet missed the previous T20I fixtures in Sri Lanka due to personal reasons, but Hetmyer was recalled for the ODIs against England.The squad remains largely unchanged from the one that lost 2-1 to Sri Lanka, with Alick Athanaze, Andre Fletcher, and Shamar Springer making way for Terrance Hinds, Matthew Forde, and Romario Shepherd. Hinds retains his place despite being uncapped, while Forde provides cover for Alzarri Joseph, who received a two-match suspension for walking off the field in the third ODI.West Indies head coach Daren Sammy expressed confidence in the selected squad, stating, "The T20 team is our most settled team with lots of experienced players. However, the difficulty will be picking the eleven, as every single player is challenging for a spot. As we face a very good England team, I am confident that the selected squad will continue to play a brand of cricket that allows us to win games and this 'Rivalry' series."After the two matches in Barbados, the teams will move to St Lucia for the remaining three games. West Indies are expected to confirm their squad for those matches in due course.

Former England Test captain Sir Alastair Cook has emphasized the need for the team to finalize Jos Buttler's role in the white-ball setup. Buttler, who has been sidelined since the T20 World Cup semi-final due to a calf injury, will return as captain for the upcoming T20I series against the West Indies.Cook believes that England must determine whether Buttler will continue as a wicketkeeper or transition to a specialist batter. This decision will significantly impact the team's lineup and strategy. He also expressed his confidence in Buttler's commitment to England, despite his recent signing of a two-year central contract.Cook highlighted the emergence of several promising young players in the T20I squad, including Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Jacob Bethell, Jordan Cox, and Liam Livingstone. He praised their modern approach to the game and their ability to execute a wide range of shots.However, Cook emphasized the need for these players to gain experience and make the step up to international cricket. He believes that one of them will eventually establish themselves as a standout performer.Cook also expressed his satisfaction with Jofra Archer's return to the ODI team. Archer has played all three ODIs against the West Indies, indicating his improved physical condition. Cook believes that Archer's versatility and ability to bowl in all phases of the game make him a valuable asset to the English bowling attack.

Marcus Trescothick, England's batting coach, has expressed concerns over the lack of domestic 50-over cricket, which he believes is hindering the development of the team's young white-ball players.England's recent ODI series defeat in Barbados marked their third consecutive loss since the 2023 World Cup, with the team fielding a largely inexperienced lineup due to the overlap with Test commitments. Several key players were absent, including Jordan Cox and Rehan Ahmed, who were the only members of the Pakistan tour group to feature in the Caribbean.Trescothick emphasized the importance of domestic 50-over cricket in providing players with the necessary experience and understanding of the game. However, he acknowledged the challenges posed by the current structure, which sees the One-Day Cup clashing with the Hundred."It's not helping because you're not getting the volume of games that players would like to get and really build an understanding of the game," Trescothick said. "But you kind of know why that is and that is the structure we're given to play, and we'll make a fist of it and make it work as much as we can."Phil Salt, who scored 74 in the final ODI, echoed Trescothick's sentiments, calling for more domestic 50-over opportunities. "I don't think there's many players in this team that you could go through and go 'oh they're doing a great job right now'," Salt said. "That's the reality of it because we've not played a lot of 50-over cricket."Trescothick acknowledged the challenges of finding a balance between Test cricket, domestic T20 competitions, and the Hundred. However, he stressed the need to address the lack of 50-over cricket, which is essential for the development of England's white-ball players."It's really challenging," Trescothick said. "We know how important Test cricket is in England and obviously having the domestic T20 competition and the Hundred, that's vitally important to our game. How do we get that balance right? That's for the powers above to look at, but it's not going to be easy."Trescothick also provided an update on Jofra Archer, who successfully completed the series without any injury issues. The fast bowler took only one wicket, but Trescothick expressed satisfaction with his performance as England look to build him back to potentially playing Test cricket in the summer.

Interim England head coach Marcus Trescothick has expressed his concerns over the team's recent struggles, following their 2-1 ODI series defeat to the West Indies. The loss marks England's third consecutive series defeat in the format.Trescothick acknowledged the challenges faced by the team, which included a packed cricketing schedule and the inclusion of several inexperienced players. "It has been a really challenging time for us," he said. "Guys have just finished the Test series in Pakistan. There is another Test series starting in 20 days' time. We know where we are. We have seen some things we have wanted to see."In the series decider at Kensington Oval in Barbados, the West Indies chased down England's total of 263/8 with seven overs remaining, thanks to unbeaten centuries from Keacy Carty and Brandon King. Trescothick praised the performance of young all-rounder Jacob Bethell, who scored a half-century in England's victory in the second match of the series. "Bethell has really shone in the short space of time he has had," he said.Despite the disappointing results, Trescothick believes the team is making progress. "We have a better understanding of what our team will look like in comparison to series results," he said. "A few guys are really stepping up. Liam Livingstone, for example. Bethell has really shone in the short space of time he has had."Former England captain Alastair Cook believes the appointment of Brendon McCullum as head coach of the white-ball teams will provide a much-needed boost. "I'm looking forward to McCullum having his stamp on this side because he has a way of getting the best out of players," Cook said. "Every time he's taken over sides, there's been a real enthusiasm about playing in that team. With that one-day team, it just needs a bit of a boost."

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has deemed the pitches prepared for Pakistan's recent Test series against England as "satisfactory," despite the surfaces drawing significant attention for their contrasting nature.In the first Test, Pakistan's flat pitch allowed both teams to amass massive totals, with England setting a record-breaking 827 for 7 declared. However, Pakistan's subsequent innings collapse led to a result that seemed improbable earlier in the match.Following this defeat, Pakistan drastically altered their pitch-making strategy. For the second Test in Multan, they reused the same surface and employed giant fans to dry it out. The third Test in Rawalpindi, a venue known for its lack of spin, also involved fans and heaters to break up the surface.These changes resulted in pitches that provided significant assistance to spinners, with all 40 of England's wickets in the last two Tests falling to spin. Pakistan won the second Test on the fourth day, while the third Test ended before lunch on day three.Despite the contrasting nature of the pitches, England raised no public objections, while Pakistan maintained their right to prepare surfaces that offered them home advantage. The ICC's "satisfactory" rating reflects this view, as it is the lowest rating that does not constitute a censure.The ICC rates pitches and outfields on a scale from "very good" to "unfit." An "unsatisfactory" rating results in one demerit point, while an "unfit" rating incurs three. Grounds that accumulate five or more demerit points within a five-year period are suspended from hosting international cricket for 12 months.This was the third consecutive Test in Rawalpindi where the pitch came under scrutiny. In 2022, the surface was rated "below average" and docked a demerit point, which was later rescinded on appeal.