Edgbaston is set to host its first ODI since 2021 this week, when England take on the West Indies in the opening game of their three-match series on Thursday afternoon.
Birmingham is set for occasional light showers in the coming days, but the worst of the weather is expected to ease ahead of the start of this day-night encounter.
Match preview
This marks the start of the journey to the 2027 ODI World Cup in southern Africa, and this series carries more than just competitive value - it also plays a crucial role in shaping both teams' qualification prospects for the global tournament.
With only the top eight ranked teams (excluding hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe) earning automatic qualification for the expanded 2027 World Cup, England, West Indies and Bangladesh - ranked eighth through 10th, respectively - face a tight race, making each bilateral series crucial to avoid the global Qualifier.
England began their home season with a dominant innings and 45-run victory over Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge last week, wrapping up the four-day Test before tea on day three thanks to Shoaib Bashir's career-best 6/81.
Perhaps the best news for the Three Lions, though, was Ben Stokes's comeback in his first game of the year after hamstring surgery, taking two wickets without conceding a run in 11 balls, which left Zimbabwe reeling at 199/5 in their first innings.
Despite dismal showings in the 2023 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy after their series loss Down Under, England have been dominant at home in ODIs, winning 13 of 17 series since 2016, including a 4-0 victory over the West Indies in 2017, with rain preventing a clean sweep.
Meanwhile, head coach Daren Sammy had mentioned before their recent series that he anticipated tough conditions in Ireland, especially without a warm-up match, but even he would have been stunned by the 124-run defeat his side suffered in the first game on May 21.
However, while the West Indies may not have achieved all their goals in the three-match ODI series in Dublin (drawn 1-1), they showed significant progress after that heavy defeat in the opener.
The Windies bounced back emphatically by scoring 352/8 in the second match, which was unfortunately washed out, before posting 385/7 in game three, while claiming all 10 wickets inside 30 overs to win the match and level the series.
Notably, Keacy Carty was thrust into the demanding number three role on his ODI debut and, after a disappointing first outing, responded brilliantly with consecutive centuries, outscoring Ireland's entire team in the third match, while providing his team with momentum to carry into this one.
Team News
This will be Harry Brook's first series as the team captain, and England will be hoping to bring the form they showed in last week's Test to the limited-overs format, having lost their last ODI series 3-2 in Australia last year.
England speedster Jofra Archer has been sidelined for the three-match ODI series against the West Indies due to a thumb injury, with 29-year-old Lancashire left-arm seamer Luke Wood named as his replacement.
Gus Atkinson picked up a hamstring strain against Zimbabwe, and Mark Wood has been ruled out owing to a knee injury, meaning Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Potts and potentially Brydon Carse will be tasked with leading the Three Lions' pace attack.
Brandon King and Evin Lewis struggled to find top gear against Ireland, but Justin Greaves showed steady improvement across the series, while captain Shai Hope also found form with innings of 2, 49 and 75
Matthew Forde impressed with his versatility in Dublin, performing effectively both as an anchor and a finisher, and he will have a big role to play in this series alongside teenage star Jewel Andrew in the Windies' middle-order.
England squad: Harry Brook (c), Luke Wood, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith
West Indies squad: Shai Hope (c), Jewel Andrew, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd
We say: England to win
The West Indies' performances certainly improved as their series against Ireland progressed, but they now face a significant step-up in class of opposition in the Three Lions, who we feel will edge the first of these three one-dayers.
body check tags ::
Previews by email
