Cricket: West Indies v England T20 Series - Match One Preview

West Indies v England 

Five-match T20 series – Match One, January 22

Kensington Oval, Barbados (8pm UK)

England’s fans are able to travel on an away tour for the first time since pre-Coronavirus, and they could be in for a treat.

The Barmy Army were present in Australia for the Ashes, but only expats who lived Down Under.

The travelling supporters, and there should be a fair few given it is Barbados, will watch effectively an England B side face the hosts given the star names who are missing.

Only Sam Billings took part in the Ashes, and it remains to be seen whether he will play in game one given he played in the final Test at Hobart last weekend.

England played a warm-up game against a Barbados Cricket Association President’s XI yesterday and totted up 231-4, including 115 off 47 balls for opener Jason Roy. He reached his hundred off 36 balls.

The West Indies also played the same opponents and won.

England can overturn West Indies’ favouritism on sixes market

It raised an eyebrow when I came across the most match sixes market and saw England priced as the 7/4 outsiders with bet365.

Now, the West Indies have plenty of power, I don’t deny that. Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Odean Smith and even fast bowler Romario Shepherd, to name a few, can all give it a clonk.

But England can certainly match that power with Roy, Liam Livingstone, captain Morgan, Phil Salt, Moeen Ali all regular six hitters.

And I would be keen to take the 7/4 on offer here for a side who are favourites to win the match.

Series title sponsors Betway offer plethora of pre-built bets

Betway, who are sponsoring the series, have priced up a number of combination bets. You know the type, three players to score 50 plus runs in the match at 5-4, that kind of thing.

One which catches the eye is England to win and over 1.5 run outs in the match at 4/1. 

Short form cricket can often get very hectic and bring about run outs, especially in the desperation for late runs. 

Two in the game is certainly not out of the question,  and England should get the job done.