Bowling execution is key says West Indies captain

Captain Jason Holder has stressed the “clinical” execution of bowling plans as his inspired West Indies seek to build on their stunning Test series win with further success, when they face world number one England in the opening One-Day International of the five-match series here Wednesday.

The hosts find themselves up against a powerful England side unbeaten in their last nine series and with 22 wins in their last 29 ODIs, and rightfully already installed as favourites to win the ICC World Cup at home later this year.

And with a batting line-up which boasts the likes of captain Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy, Holder warned the Windies bowling group needed to be on their toes in the series.

“I think we’ve got to be very, very clinical in terms of our bowling,” Holder told reporters here Wednesday ahead of the contest at Kensington Oval.

“England pack a heavy punch in terms of their batting order. They bat very, very deep and they’re the top-ranked side for a reason, so we’ve got to be really precise with our bowling plans and make sure that we execute our plans and restrict them to as little as possible.”

He continued: “I think the way one-day cricket has gone in the last couple of years, 300, 320 is almost a par score so we’ve got to be very, very strict with our plans and make sure we restrict England.”

West Indies will boast a relatively inexperienced attack, which feature the likes of quicks Oshane Thomas and Sheldon Cottrell, along with left-arm spinner Fabian Allen, who among them have played only 14 ODIs.

SQUADS:

WEST INDIES – Jason Holder (captain), Fabian Allen, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, John Campbell, Ashley Nurse, Carlos Brathwaite, Nicholas Pooran, Sheldon Cottrell, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas.

ENGLAND – Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.