West Indies v England: Key battles ahead of the T20I series

CIARAN MCCARTHY looks ahead to some of the key battles that could impact and decide the T20I series between West Indies and England

England's Test team absence leads to opportunity

With several members of England’s Ashes squad rested for the series - apart from Sam Billings, who was assured he could still play despite joining up with the Test squad for the final Test - there will be opportunities for less experienced players to make a name for themselves in an England shirt.

Billings himself is yet to have a real impact on England’s T20 side. He averages 16.68 with the bat from 29 innings, including two fifties, but does have a promising strike rate of 128.30. The Kent star will likely be given the gloves when he arrives, with one of either Phil Salt or Tom Banton deputising behind the stumps in his absence.

This series is as good a chance as any for him to really impress in the T20 side and play as one of the stars, rather than as an understudy for the likes of Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes.

Sussex allrounder George Garton was unlucky not to make his England debut in the summer, with a Covid outbreak ruled him out of the Pakistan ODI series. He will surely be given an opportunity to showcase his skills in this series.

He averages 22.72 with the ball and 18.31 with the bat in T20s and has impressed in frachise leagues around the world. This bowling allrounder deserves his shot in the England side.

Saqib Mahmood seems destined to be a future star of England's white-ball set-up but the Lancashire seamer has had a tough start to his T20I career, averaging 43.14 with the ball.

However, with strike bowler his likely job description in the Caribbean, he has the opportunity to take wickets, bring his average right down and cement his status as one of the faces of the next generation of English talent.

_{George Garton could make his debut for England [Mark Kolbe/Getty Images]}

Brandon King and Phil Salt: Destructive openers with a point to prove

While the two sides have established opening batters in Jason Roy and Shai Hope - both of whom have regularly played for their respective countries in one format or another - the other likely openers are much less experienced.

Brandon King has played just 14 T20I matches, but did open the batting in each of West Indies’ three matches against Pakistan in December.

Phil Salt, who is slated to open the batting for England in the absence of Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow, is currently uncapped in T20I cricket, though he played three ODIs in July as part of an entirely new English squad against Pakistan.

West Indies and England are two of the most explosive sides in the world with the bat, and these two have power in bucket loads - King's strike rate is 133.04, Salt’s is 150.73.

Expect both to showcase their talents for bludgeoning the ball to all parts as they look to impress and remain in their respective sides for the future. Salt especially, will want to have a positive effect as he looks to stake his claim to a regular spot in England’s limited over sides.

^{Phil Salt representing England against Pakistan in July 2021 [Stu Forster/Getty Images]}

Sheldon Cottrell and Tymal Mills: Battle of the left-arm quicks

Sheldon Cottrell and Tymal Mills are two of the fastest bowlers in world cricket, regularly reaching the 90mph mark. And what makes them even more uncomfortable for batsmen to face is the fact they are both left-armers, constantly stuffing the ball at the right hander’s ribs when they drop their length.

Cottrell will likely open the bowling whereas Mills has been utilised as a death bowler for much of his short international career, but despite the differences, both are very impactful with the ball - Cottrell averages 21.90 in T20Is while Mills averages 23.70.

And while Cottrell has taken more wickets per game than Mills in T20I cricket - 42 in 33 compared to Mills’ 10 in nine, they are both likely to be the key bowlers for their respective sides throughout this series, and it will be very interesting to see who has the biggest impact.

^{Sheldon Cottrell [Michael Steele/Getty Images] takes on Tymal Mills [Alex Davidson/Getty Images] in the battle of the left-armers}

Kieron Pollard and Eoin Morgan: Two experienced captains go head to head

Pollard and Morgan are experienced campaigners in T20I cricket, debuting in the format in 2008 and 2009, respectively.

The two are brilliant batters, both having hit over 1000 runs in T20I cricket, and often change games in their sides’ favour.

And clearly, they are both fantastic captains, leading with a calm head even when struggling for form themselves.

Pollard hit 265 runs in his 15 innings in 2021 and missed his side's tour of Pakistan after sustaining an injury at the T20 World Cup. Morgan has posted just one score above 30 in his 12 innings last year, ending 2021 with just 160 runs.

With both captains having struggled in the past year, seeing how they perform at the start of a new one will be interesting, as will seeing whose side comes out on top in the series.

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