England vs West Indies Test series / Wisden Trophy 2020 – 1st Test
1st Test / 1st Behind closed Door Match:
Cricket was stopped due to the Covid 19 pandemic, but now it is going to be resumed, of course with temporary some changes in rules. The match officials (On field umpires, third empire, reserve umpire and match referee) in the test series will be non-neutral. Each team will get 3 unsuccessful DRS in stead of two. No saliva at all on the ball for shining purpose. The match is going to be played behind the closed door, that means audience will not allow in the stadium to watch the live match. With the changed rules, the teams, England and West Indies, are going to play first Test of the series of three Test matches at the Rose Bowl, Southampton.
West Indies Tour of England History:
This is going to be thirty eighth bilateral series between the teams. Initially ten series were just bilateral series, after that the name, Wisden Trophy, was given to the series in 1963. England won the series 14 times, whereas West Indies won the series 17 times, and 6 times the series were drawn. West Indies team was undefeated from 1969 to 2000, on the other hand, England was undefeated from 2008-09 to 2018-19.
When touring England by West Indies team, then, the host has upper hand. Out of 21 Test series, the home side won eleven times and the visitors won eight times with two series draws. Last time the series defeat for the host was in 1988. After that, both the teams played the series eight times, in which host won six series with two draws.
The teams completed 157 meetings in longest cricket format. Out of them, the host won 49 times and lost 57 times, with 51 matches without any result, one were abandoned without toss and one was cancelled.
On the soil of England, the teams faced each other 86 times. out of them, the English team won 34 times, and West Indies team won 30 times with 22 draw games.
Victory brings points:
The series is the comparison between the forth rank team (England) and Eighth rank team (West Indies) team. The host is way ahead of visitors.
The host could increase the points for the team through series victory either by three-nil or by winning two matches without any loss. Single win can help the team to stay on the same points. If the series will result into draw or on the favor of visitors, the host will lose the points. The team will neither increase its position nor decrease it with any series result.
On the other hand, the visitors have good opportunity, as the team would lose the points, if losing minimum two matches of the series. If the team will lose the series with one-nil, then also team will not lose any points, but the team either will draw the series or win the series, the team will boost its points, also through winning series, the team will have chance to improve the position and could reach up to the fifth rank from eighth.
Venue Weather:
Weather forecast of the Southampton shows cloudy for the first three days and fifth days and sunny on the forth day. The rain would hit the match on the second day, as the precipitation percentage would be 50% and 40% on the day one. The temperature would be around 20 degree Celsius. The wind would be around 20 kmph for the first three days and around 10kmph for the remaining days.
Toss and Pitch:
Teams preferred to bat first after winning the toss, which happened twice out of three matches, and the selection favored the teams and the teams won all the times after selecting the first batting and never lost. On the other hand, team chose to field first after winning the toss received draw as result.
Particularly, for England, the team won the toss all three times, and the teams won the twice with one draw.
The first batting team won the matches twice, whereas, the teams, who batted second, never won the match, yet.
The lowest defended total was 244, but none of the teams won the match through chasing on the venue, yet. Interesting to see, if the team will win the match in the forth inning.
The first inning lowest total was 184, and the highest total was 569 (declared) runs. For the second inning, the lowest total was 273, whereas highest was 377 (declared) run. The lowest total was 205 (declared), whereas highest was 334 (uncompleted inning) run for the third inning, and For the forth inning, the lowest total was 178, whereas highest was 184 runs. Till now, the forth inning never crossed the 200 figure.
The batting average of the first innings is 37 and 35 is for the second innings, whereas 42.63 is for third inning and 18.10 for the forth inning.
History Between the Teams:
Both the teams never faced each other on the venue. The upcoming encounter will be the first one between the teams as well as for the visitors, as the team never gets a chance to play on the venue.
Test History at Venue:
The home side has good record at the venue, and won twice out of three encounters and never lost.
Tentative XI for both the Teams:
England:
The home side could pick the pacers, as the pitch favors seamers in previously played games, but spinners would be handy in the forth inning as well.
England Eleven: R. Burns, D. Sibley, J. Denly, O. Pope. B. Stokes, J. Butler, C. Woakes, J. Archer, D. Bess, S. Broad, J. Anderson.
West Indies:
The visitors would also prefer to go with pacers and may include one spinner for the forth inning.
West Indies Eleven: K. Brathwaite, J. Campbell, S. Brooks, S. Hope, J. Blackwood, R. Chase, J. Holder, R. Reifer / C. Holder, A. Joseph, S. Gabriel, K. Roach.
