ENG vs WI T20Is Preview | West Indies look to bounce back after ODI debacle in build-up to T20 World Cup 2026

‌West Indies will aim to put their ODI debacle on the back burner and put their T20I credentials to the fore when they meet host England in the first T20I of the five-match series at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street on Friday. With the fast-approaching T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year, both sides, especially England, will look to arrive at a settled playing eleven.

England completed a 3-0 whitewash over the Windies in Harry Brook’s first assignment as white-ball captain earlier this week and will look to carry on the winning momentum to the shorter format. But it will be easier said than done as the visitors have been the most comfortable in T20Is compared to other formats. 

England opener Phil Salt will miss the T20I series as he is on paternity break with wicketkeeper-batter Tom Banton or all-rounder Jacob Bethell expected to open the innings along with Ben Duckett. Jos Buttler, who was the top run-getter for England in their last T20I series against India, is expected to continue playing at number three while Jamie Smith and Will Jacks may feature in the middle order.

On the bowling front, pacer Brydon Carse, who impressed on the India tour with nine wickets from four matches albeit in a 4-1 loss, is expected to partner Saqib Mahmood who had a good ODI leg against the Windies this week. With Jamie Overton ruled out with injury, Matthew Potts may feature in the side that will also have the experienced Adil Rashid manning the spin department.

Meanwhile, West Indies, led by Shai Hope, will look to bounce back from their 3-0 loss at home to Bangladesh in their last T20I outing. But they had a sloppy start to their tour of England with an identical sweep by the home side in the ODI leg. However, West Indies looks a formidable unit with the return of big-hitters Andre Russell, Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd along with opener Johnson Charles and left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein.

Form Guide

ENG Form: LLWLL

WI Form: LLLWL

ENG vs WI head-to-head in T20Is

West Indies hold a slight advantage over England in their head-to-head meetings in T20Is with 18 wins compared to 16 in 35 meetings with one game being abandoned without any result. However, it was England who finished 3-1 on the right side of the fence when the two sides last met in a five-match T20I series in West Indies in November 2024.

ENG 16 - 18 WI

Pitch and Conditions

Also known as the Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground, the Riverside Ground has hosted only four T20Is till date with one match in the last eight years with sides not crossing the 200-run mark in a single occasion. The surface is expected to assist the bowlers with lateral movement and the batters will have their task cut out during overcast conditions. In the four matches, two have been won by sides batting first and the other two by chasing teams with England's 195/5 in a T20I against Australia in their 27-run win in 2013 being the highest total registered here.

There are rains expected on the morning of the match day followed by passing showers in the afternoon with temperature expected to be around the 18-degree mark. However, the skies are expected to clear by evening with only a 25% chance of rain but the temperatures may dip to 7 degrees at night. 

Team News

Both sides will look to put the strongest eleven on the field to draw first blood in the five-match series. Both wicketkeeper-batters Tom Banton and Jamie Smith are expected to start besides Jos Buttler for England while all-rounder Jason Holder is expected to play his first T20I for West Indies after 16 months alongside the duo of Andre Russell and Romario Shepherd.

ENG Expected XI

Harry Brook (c), Tom Banton, Jos Buttler, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Matthew Potts

WI Expected XI

Shai Hope (c & wk), Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Romario Shepherd, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph

Broadcasting Platforms 

The ENG vs WI first T20I match will be digitally streamed on the SonyLiv app and website in India with the telecast on the Sony Sports Network from 11:00 PM IST on Friday.