Liam Livingstone has been given the opportunity to captain England's ODI team for the upcoming series against West Indies, as regular captain Jos Buttler is still recovering from a calf injury. Livingstone, who was dropped from the team for previous series, has been given a second chance and is determined to prove his worth. He expressed his pride and excitement for the role, while acknowledging that he still has much more to offer in his career.
Evin Lewis' sizzling innings of 94, including four sixes, proved to be the difference as West Indies comfortably chased down England's total of 209 in the first ODI in Antigua. England's batting struggled against the West Indian bowlers, with Liam Livingstone's 48 being the only bright spot in their under-par total. With this win, the West Indies take a 1-0 lead in the series.
The 2020 tour of England by the West Indies was instrumental in providing financial stability to English cricket amid the uncertainties brought on by the pandemic. Former West Indian skipper Jason Holder praised England for their support towards smaller cricketing nations, stating that the influx of money from tours, mainly involving England and India, greatly helps Caribbean cricket. With the upcoming eight-match white-ball series between the two nations, Holder expressed his excitement for the series, considering that both teams are currently going through a phase of transition.
England secured a thrilling 2 runs win over West Indies in the first one-day international match held at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. Led by captain Liam Livingstone, England delivered a stellar performance, outshining the West Indies in both batting and bowling. With a total of 38.1 overs and an unbeaten partnership from Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid, England emerged victorious in a nail-biting finish, setting the tone for the rest of the series.