Cricket

Bangladesh's practice match against the West Indies Select XI in Coolidge ended in a draw due to rain, but the visitors had a productive outing. Despite a four-and-a-half-hour delay on the second day, Bangladesh's bowlers reduced the hosts to 87 for 9, with rookie left-arm spinner Hasan Murad claiming a hat-trick.Murad's hat-trick, which included the wickets of Daniel Beckford, Navin Bidaisee, and Chaim Holder, came in the 28th over, prompting Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons to end the match. Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud also took two wickets each, while Shoriful Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz chipped in with one apiece.Earlier, Bangladesh had batted for 73.2 overs on the first day, declaring on 253 for 7. Jaker Ali and Mahidul Islam retired on 48 and 41, respectively, while Litton Das, who missed the second Test against South Africa due to fever, retired on 31. Mominul Haque, Bangladesh's most experienced cricketer on tour, also made 31.However, Bangladesh's concerns remain with opening batters Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Zakir Hasan, who both got out cheaply. For the West Indies Select XI, Jair McAllister and Holder took two wickets each, while Kimani Melius top-scored with 23.Despite the rain interruption, Bangladesh's bowlers had a moderate workout, and the team will be looking to build on this performance in the upcoming Test series against the West Indies, which starts in Antigua on Friday.

West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder will miss the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh due to ongoing shoulder rehabilitation. The series, scheduled to begin on November 22 in Antigua, will see the return of offspinner Kevin Sinclair and right-arm quick Anderson Phillip to the Test squad.Sinclair, who missed the recent Test series against South Africa due to injury, has recovered and will bolster the West Indies' spin attack. Phillip, who last played a Test in December 2022, has impressed with his recent performances for Trinidad & Tobago in the domestic 50-over competition and Lancashire in the English county championship.Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who was rested for the South Africa series due to his heavy workload, has also returned to the Test fold. Joseph, who is currently playing in the T20I series against England, will be a key member of the West Indies' pace attack.Despite Joseph's return, Joshua Da Silva will retain his role as vice-captain, a position he assumed during Joseph's absence. Making way for the returnees are spinners Gudakesh Motie and Bryan Charles. Motie, who has been playing in the white-ball games against England, has been dropped from the Test side after unimpressive performances against South Africa. Charles, who was expected to make his Test debut in the South Africa series, has also been omitted.The West Indies will also play a two-day warm-up match against Bangladesh from November 17-18 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. Kraigg Brathwaite will lead a CWI Select XI, which includes several promising young players, in the warm-up match.

England's Twenty20 International (T20I) series triumph over the West Indies in St Lucia marks a significant milestone for the team. After a rain-delayed start, England emerged victorious in a tense match, securing their first white-ball series win in the Caribbean since 2019.The West Indies' innings began with a shaky start, losing five wickets for just 37 runs. However, a resilient half-century from captain Rovman Powell (51) and a valuable contribution from Romario Shepherd (28) helped the team recover, setting a target of 146 runs for England.England's chase faced early setbacks with the dismissals of Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, and Jacob Bethell. Sam Curran (41) and Liam Livingstone (39) steadied the innings, guiding England towards the target. Despite losing wickets at crucial moments, England managed to reach the target with just four balls to spare.Saqib Mahmood was England's standout bowler, claiming three wickets for 17 runs. The victory is a positive sign for England after disappointing performances in the 2023 ODI World Cup and this year's T20 World Cup.The series has also witnessed a trend of the team winning the coin toss going on to win the match. This has been the case in all three One Day Internationals and the first two Twenty20 Internationals.With two more T20 matches remaining in St Lucia this weekend, England will aim to complete a series sweep and continue their momentum ahead of the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Australia.

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."

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.

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."

England's white-ball team embarks on a fourth tour of the Caribbean in three years, seeking to continue their post-World Cup reboot under the impending influence of Brendon McCullum. Despite the absence of key multi-format players, this series presents an opportunity for the next generation to stake their claim in the Bazball era.Liam Livingstone, recently elevated to the captaincy, leads a squad featuring five potential ODI debutants, including Jordan Cox and Jafer Chohan. Established names like Sam Curran and Phil Salt will also be eager to prove their worth in the absence of Jos Buttler and Harry Brook.West Indies, with their proud home record against England, will pose a formidable challenge. Led by Evin Lewis, who recently returned to form with a match-winning century, and the pace prowess of Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales, they have the firepower to blunt England's aggressive batting.The series will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Ground in Antigua, where West Indies have won five of their last six matches. However, England will be buoyed by their recent victory at the same venue in December 2023.With the Test tours of Pakistan and New Zealand looming, this series provides a valuable opportunity for England to experiment and assess their options. The focus will be on individual performances and the development of a cohesive strategy under the Bazball philosophy.