Woakes proves all round value as Windies ‘reserves’ refuse to fold
Chris Stocks analyses the first two ODIs and identifies the areas in which England excelled or struggled as the Champions Trophy looms
In the two years since the last World Cup, England have made a name for themselves as the great entertainers of international one-day cricket. However, their victories on a slow, nay turgid, Antigua pitch showed they are also capable of winning ugly.
Both matches were a lot closer than anybody in the touring party would have liked, the first last Friday won by the margin of 45 runs and the second two days later by four wickets.
This West Indies side may be shorn of most of their big-name players because of reasons far away from the cricket field.Yet this largely second-choice group of players belied their status as stand-ins to give England a few uncomfortable moments.
None was trickier than in last Sunday’s second ODI when Eoin Morgan’s side collapsed against spin to find themselves 124-6 in pursuit of 226 to win. But a spirited 102-run stand between Joe Root and Chris Woakes got their team out of jail. It was a partnership that underlined not only Root’s class but also the value of having a No.8 batsman in Woakes who has now posted two half-centuries in this format in the past nine months.
Woakes struck an unbeaten 95 to help England to what had appeared an unlikely tie against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge last June. This innings of 68, also unbeaten, was perhaps even more impressive.
Root, meanwhile, has had a lot to deal with this year having become a father for the first time and then being appointed Alastair Cook’s successor as Test captain last month.
However, talk about the Yorkshireman’s ability to deal with any extra responsibility was put on the back burner as he struck a fine unbeaten 90 to get England over the line in the second ODI in Antigua.
Root and Woakes were forced into their repair job after home spinners Ashley Nurse and Devendra Bishoo took five wickets in 30 balls to rout England’s vaunted batting line-up.
The team who struck a world-record ODI score of 444-3 against Pakistan at Trent Bridge last August will be real contenders come the Champions Trophy in June.
Yet that same top six, minus the injured Alex Hales, were made to suffer against the turning ball on Sunday.
Things had been slightly easier two days previously, when an accomplished 107 from Morgan helped England to 296-6 batting first on a pitch that was always going to be difficult to score big runs on.
West Indies gave a decent fist of the chase, although they never really appeared likely to overhaul England’s score even if half-centuries from Jason Mohammed and Jonathan Carter during an 82-run fifth-wicket stand briefly brought the hosts back into the contest.
There were also encouraging halfcenturies for openers in each match. Sam Billings, in the side while Hales recovered from a broken right hand, made 52 before giving his wicket
Jos Buttler is one man glad to have left Antigua. Having endured a tough ODI tour of India, he failed to make runs in either game
away with a sloppy shot to mid-on in the opening ODI.
It was a chance lost by the Kent batsman given he needed a big score to put pressure on Hales for a place in the team.
Jason Roy, meanwhile, was far more fluent in scoring his half-century from 45 balls two days later. Billings had already departed for a golden duck by then.
Roy, though, should also feel guilty for handing his wicket to the West Indies, a reckless shot to long-on sparking the collapse that so very nearly cost his team the match.
In terms of the bowling attack, Liam Plunkett and Woakes both proved why they are likely certain starters for the Champions Trophy.
Plunkett’s seven wickets across both games were an illustration of his value to the team, with a clever variation in pace and length ensuring he was always a challenge to the batsmen.
Woakes, who took 4-47 in the first game, is another whose change in pace and accuracy is a godsend to Morgan, whose attack is too often unreliable under real pressure. Woakes’ runs with the bat were a bonus.
Adil Rashid continues to perplex in international cricket. Always appearing hittable, the leg-spinner does have the knack of picking up wickets – three across these first two matches – just when you imagine England’s management are about to tear their collective hair out.
Moeen Ali, who followed an unbeaten 31 with three in the second ODI, recovered from a poor first match with the ball to return a tidy 1-44 from his 10 overs on Sunday.
Jos Buttler is one man who will be glad to have left Antigua. Having endured a tough limited-overs tour of India at the start of the year, he failed to make runs in either of these games – scoring 14 and a duck.
The man who holds the record for England’s three fastest hundreds in 50-over cricket is nowhere close to being dropped.
Yet he will be disappointed to have failed to contribute at the start of this series.
Morgan said: “I thought the bowlers did an outstanding job again, building on what we did on Friday. In the field we were a bit sloppy and the chase wasn’t ideal. We knew it would be tough.
“Woakes is a guy who keeps giving to the team and a man who often goes without the majority of the praise, and that’s just his character.
“We don’t want to rely on him too much but he is a luxury down the bottom of the order.”