West Indies vs England, WI vs ENG, Today Match Prediction 16 March 2022

win vs eng Match Prediction & Analysis

West Indies is set to host England in the second Test at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown. The Test is scheduled for 16th March and will start at 10:00 am local time (7:30 pm IST).  The first Test of the series resulted in a draw after West Indies batters Nkrumah Bonner and Jason Holder batted out 34.4 overs in the final session.

The first Test gave a series of events for fans. Batting first, England were reduced to 48 for the loss of 4 wickets. A strong comeback from the English middle-order saw the visitors put a decent 311 runs total on the board. Jonny Bairstow hit his 8th century before getting out on 140 runs. Jayden Seals’ 4 wickets were the talk of the first innings. The hosts came back stronger by taking a 64 runs lead at the end of their first Innings. Nkrumah Bonner played a nine-hour knock to score 123 runs.

England showed more dominance in the second innings. Centuries from Zak Crawley and skipper Joe Root were enough to ensure a final day declaration on 349 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. Chasing 286 runs, West Indies suffered a blow in the second session after the visitors picked four wickets for 67 runs. But first-innings hero Bonner and Jason Holder played out the last session to share the honours in the series opener.

West Indies have docked 2 World Test Championship points for slow over-rate, They are now slipped to eighth place with 14 points and are now in level with England. The second Test is hence important for both teams to improve their chances to qualify for the WTC final. This will be the 17th outing between England and West Indies at Bridgetown. West Indies have 6 victories while the English side have managed three wins on this ground. England are now gone 7 Tests without a victory whereas West Indies have just one favourable outcome in their last five Tests. Despite this, the English side is the bookies’ favourites to win the second Test.

TEAMS PREVIEW

West Indies Preview

West Indies have named an unchanged thirteen men squad for the second Test, with pacer Shannon Gabriel not yet to be deemed fit to return. This means West Indies will most probably go with the same eleven players in the second Test. Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell will open the innings for West Indies. The pair put fifty-plus runs partnership in both innings. Shamarh Brooks's recent form has added a little worry in the hosts’ camp. But the management will keep faith in him to take third place in the top-order.

Nkrumah Bonner played effortless innings on both occasions in the first Test. He was rewarded man of the match for his 123 runs in the first innings followed by an unbeaten 38 runs in the second that helped West Indies settle for the draw. Jermaine Blackwood and Jason Holder will keep the middle-order tight. Holder took 3 wickets in the first Test and scored 82 runs with the bat. His rise in recent matches will be the key for the hosts to derail England’s plan for the second Test.

Kemar Roach, Jayden Seals, and Alzarri Joseph will lead the pace attack in absence of Shannon Gabriel. Jason Holder will provide support to the trios. West Indies pacers took all 16 wickets in the first Test. Veerasammy Permaul will keep his place in the playing eleven even after going wicketless in the first Test. 

Key Players: Nkrumah Bonner, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph

West Indies Predicted Playing XI:

Kraigg Brathwaite (c), John Campbell, Shamarh Brooks, Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph, Veerasammy Permaul, Jayden Seales

West Indies Actual Playing XI:

Kemar Roach, Shamarh Brooks, Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Veerasammy Permaul, Jayden Seales, Alzarri Joseph

England Preview

Alex Lees had a forgettable debut. But England will let Zak Crawley open with him. They don’t have any option for the opening spot. Crawley will be confident enough after getting a ton in the second innings. Skipper Joe Root kept his super-hot form from the last year to score his 24th ton. He now has 1000 plus runs in the last 10 Tests. Looking at his average, West Indies will find it difficult to get past the English top-order.

Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes, and Jonny Bairstow will bat in the middle-order. While Stokes is still finding the touch, Lawrence showed some potential by scoring 37 in the second innings in just 36 balls. Bairstow’s 140 runs are enough now to keep his place in the playing eleven for another tour. Wicket-keeper Ben Foakes showed that he has an outstanding set of hands behind the wicket. The right-handed batter scored 42 runs with the bat when needed. It is safe to say, England have found their future.

England played with three pacers and a spinner in the first Test. The combination will remain the same except Ollie Robinson will return in place of Mark Wood. Wood suffered an elbow impingement that restricted him to bowling just 17 overs.  This means Ben Stokes will have an added responsibility to bowl a few more overs.

Key Players: Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes

England Predicted Playing XI:

Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Joe Root (c), Daniel Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes (wk), Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Mark Wood, Jack Leach

England Actual Playing XI:

Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Jack Leach, Dan Lawrence, Zak Crawley, Alex Lees, Ben Foakes, Ben Stokes, Matthew Fisher, Saqib Mahmood, Chris Woakes

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The weather will be clear and windy throughout the Tests. The temperature will range between 24°C and 28°C. The wind will be flowing from the northwest at 37-40 kmh. The pitch is bowling friendly and offers good carry and bounce to pacers. The wind factor will play a crucial role in the second Test. Expect some fiery performances from pace departments of both teams.

Venue Details

The second Test will be played at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados. 54 Tests have been played at Bridgetown so far. West Indies have 25 wins at Bridgetown.

Toss: To Bowl

In 54 Tests, team fielding first has registered more wins than the team batting first. Therefore team winning the toss should field first. Between 78 to 93, 13 consecutive Tests were won by the team fielding first.