Torrential rain led to the final clash of England’s T20 series in the Caribbean being abandoned, leaving the final score at 3-1.
After the earlier rain, play was able to start on time, with Jos Buttler winning the toss and – like every captain who has won the toss on this tour – deciding to bowl. West Indies’ opening pair of Evin Lewis and Shai Hope raced to 44-0, with Lewis showing his power to hit several lofted shots between midwicket and long-on.
But after rain arrived five times in the inning, there was no prospect of further play. The Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium is not known for being a particularly quick-drying pitch, by Caribbean standards. Regardless, the storm has not subsided.
While England will be very pleased with the 3-1 series scoreline, and the development of Saqib Mahmood and Jacob Bethell in particular, players from both sides have recognized the huge impact the draw had on the series.
“It’s one of the first times I’ve seen in the Caribbean that once you win the toss, you win the match,” West Indies captain Rovman Powell said after the fourth T20 victory at Sainte -Lucie Saturday. “It’s very difficult if that’s the case, you know. It’s too biased to win the toss, win the match.
The 4pm start times used in this series – ensuring matches start at 8pm for UK viewers – have exacerbated the advantage of teams winning the draw. Teams batting second were able to benefit from the opposition bowlers being hampered by dew, making it more difficult to catch the ball. The Caribbean Premier League holds matches either during the day, before dew can have an effect, or at 7 p.m. local time – ensuring that any dew affects both teams on the pitch, negating the winning advantage the draw.
Earlier, England confirmed that white-ball coaches Carl Hopkinson and Richard Dawson would both leave their roles imminently, as part of a reshuffle in backroom staff as Brendon McCullum takes control of the team. It is expected that – as he did on the Test side – McCullum will declutter the coaching staff, with fewer voices and players encouraged to take more responsibility for their own performances.
22:24 GMT
That’s it
Match canceled. England wins the series 3-1.
22:01 GMT
Imminent?
Terrible here. Will all be canceled imminently.
22:00 GMT
Referees will update soon
Television images: the rain is falling completely
Jason Roy: “If I was in the locker room, I would have already showered.”
Alastair Cook: “Yes, the bags are packed, ready to go.”
9:28 p.m. GMT
Bright rainwear
9:24 p.m. GMT
Always
spill it to the not-so-sunny town of St. Lucia.
9:24 p.m. GMT
Deadline
I don’t want to argue against the esteemed Mr T Wigmore, but they just said on TNT Sports that the latest cutoff time for a five-a-side match will be 2348 UK or 1948 local. In any case, not for a long time.
9:01 p.m. GMT
‘Cut’
It gets even heavier. This looks very bleak as far as the playing prospects are concerned. In theory, we could start a 5-a-side chase against England at 7:56 p.m. local time. I suspect this will be canceled long before then.
It is currently 5:01 p.m. in Saint Lucia
8:51 p.m. GMT
‘Sinister’
This is starting to look worrying. It rains incredibly hard and this pitch takes longer to dry than other venues in the Caribbean, due to the quality of the outfield. It already looks like a big ask to see the cricket later – although we could theoretically have a 5-a-side game, with the West Indies having already batted five overs.
8:29 p.m. GMT
‘Watering’
You definitely need to water it now. The poor field workers are soaked in their raincoats. Other covers are still applied to the ground.
8:26 p.m. GMT
OVER 5: WI 44/0 (Lewis 29* Hope 14*)
There is a lot to report on this! Three boundaries in the Turner. I’m hoping for four over mid-wicket, Lewis with a four also over mid-wicket, then Lewis again with a leg-side hack. He now tries to repeat the dose and receives a blow to the helmet. The physio arrives but they can all go and have Lewis examined (he seems fine by the way) because he is. started to rain.
8:19 p.m. GMT
OVER 4: WI 28/0 (Lewis 18* Hope 9*)
Jamie Overton comes in. Five more. It should have been more, but for some, the local pair’s poor run. Lewis lifts through mid-wicket, S Curran does well on the fence to stop it and relay it to Bethell, but that should have left enough time to run two rather than the one they have to settle for.
This is Tim
Good sign for England: Jamie Overton is in fourth position after not being fit to bowl yesterday. His workload is carefully managed; England view him as a crucial member of their squad in both white-ball formats.
8:17 p.m. GMT
OVER 3: WI 23/0 (Lewis 13* Hope 9*)
Lewis pins Archer for six! But Jof can only laugh a few balls later when Lewis tries the jumper again, big yahoo, top edge over the keeper for four.
Evin Lewis at his best: a brutal long stop for six against Jofra Archer. This is the same pitch used yesterday. West Indies, you would expect, will have designs on 210, given the disadvantage of batting first.
8:11 p.m. GMT
OVER 2: WI 12/0 (Lewis 6* Hope 5*)
John Turner bowling. Six runs also came this second time, four of them being a very attractive shot from Shai Hope, aerial over the covers.
8:03 p.m. GMT
MORE THAN 1: WI 6/0 (Lewis 5* Hope 0*)
Evin Lewis loves to shoot, and his shot selection is a poor second ball as he attempts said shot on a ball well wide. Never likely to come loose, it gets a top edge that hovers over the slip. The fifth bye ball brings Shai Hope to strike.
8:00 p.m. GMT
Jofra Archer
has the ball in hand. It’s always a pleasure to see him in the England jersey. Evin Lewis on strike.
19:55 GMT
“Win the toss, win the game? »
There was heavy rain earlier in Saint Lucia, but things are better now. We expect better attendance – most locals tend to have Sundays off. Will the win-toss-win trend be broken?
7:35 p.m. GMT
Rovman Powell
“Same approach as yesterday. If you want to hit first, you have to hit well. Five long games, we have a lot of guys who are having problems. It’s important for the fans, the people watching at home and we want to put smiles on faces.
A change for Windies: McCoy is absent and Shepherd is in.
19:34 GMT
Jos Buttler wins the toss and bowls
Jofra and Adil enter. Mousley and Mahmood the guys who give way.
“Fantastic match yesterday. I thought we did a good job with the ball. We fought to come back, we will try to do well with the ball today.
19:33 GMT
The throw is coming
Sir Richie Richardson presides. Jos wins.
19:32 GMT
Mr AN Cook
is on TNT. “Well, if we have half as much fun as last night, it was a fantastic game.”
Just like Jason Roy: “Amazing to watch. »
19:24 GMT
There was a little rain in Saint Lucia today
so we have to keep our fingers crossed on this.
7:20 p.m. GMT
Good evening and welcome
on our live blog from the fifth and final T20 international between England and West Indies in St Lucia, with England leading the series 3-1 and therefore unassailable. The draw has been crucial so far in this series, maybe too much so, and we’ll get to that soon.
A little news from England to keep us going until the match starts at 8:00 p.m. UK time.
Carl Hopkinson and Richard Dawson are to leave their posts as England’s white-ball assistants ahead of the imminent arrival of Brendon McCullum as limited-overs head coach.
Hopkinson was brought into the squad in 2018 as lead on-field coach and was in charge of England’s 50-over World Cup triumph on home soil the following year, as well as the T20 equivalent in Australia in 2022.
Dawson, a former player who played seven Tests for England, joined the team ahead of T20 success two years ago, having coached the Young Lions to the Under-20 World Cup final 19 years earlier that year.
But England announced both men would step down once the Caribbean tour ends on Sunday, opening the decks for McCullum, who is expected to take control of the T20 and ODI squads in January in addition to his head coaching duties of the Test.
Rob Key, Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, said: “Hoppo and Daws are two exceptional coaches who have played an important role in the success of our white-ball teams.
“As well as their coaching expertise with our senior teams, they have also developed young players across the age groups to help deliver the next era of our white-ball teams. England Cricket are in a better place because of them and I wish them well in the next chapter of their careers.
England have largely divided their coaching staff between Test and limited-overs cricket under Key.
However, Test wizard Marcus Trescothick has been the white-ball keeper for a home series against Australia and the ongoing white-ball trip to the West Indies, keeping the seat warm for McCullum.
“It has been a highlight of my career, not only being part of the England coaching staff for the last seven years, but also being involved in two historic World Cup victories, this which I will always cherish,” Hopkinson said.
Dawson added: “I have enjoyed every minute of being in the English environment and working with some of the best white ball players in the world as well as great people within the coaching team and staff. behind the scenes, from the U19s to the senior team.
“Being head coach of the England Under-19 team that reached the World Cup final was a career highlight. It was a pleasure to work with some of the best spinners in the world while developing the strength and depth of spin bowling talent from across the country.
“I look forward to seeing the white ball team continue to progress and hopefully win some more trophies.”