BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CMC) – Captain Shai Hope has underscored the need for improvement in two key areas, ahead of today’s series decider against England at Kensington OvalPointing to the fielding and bowling, Hope said it was important West Indies executed properly in both aspects, if they were to come away with the all-important victory in the day/night third One-Day International here.

“We can always tighten up in a few areas – one for sure that I always preach in the dressing room is our fielding,” Hope told reporters following a training session at the Oval on Friday.
“We need to make sure we take the chances, having that impact in the field, having a lot more body language especially in the ring.

“But again, we’ve got to start better with the ball especially at the top so we can get some early inroads. We’ve been struggling a little bit as a team to get those early wickets to put teams under pressure so that’s going to be a certain highlight for us going forward.”

West Indies and England shared the double-header in Antigua, the hosts winning the opener by four wickets last Sunday and the visitors hitting back to square the series with a six-wicket verdict last Wednesday.

With West Indies chasing their first series win over England in 16 years, Hope said it was critical the home side dealt with the pressure associated with the pursuit.
“Pressure is relative,” said Hope, whose unbeaten 109 saw West Indies overhaul a record 326 to win the first game.

“It is how you take it on as a professional athlete. Pressure is in all sports and it’s just about making sure we understand what’s at stake.

“We all know the series is tied at 1-1 and we have everything to play for. Any series against England is always a big series and to win here in front of our home fans is exactly what we’re trying to do.”

The storied Oval venue has provided mixed fortunes for West Indies of recent. In a double-header against India last July, the hosts were routed for a dismal 114 in the first game to lose by five wickets before rebounding to win the second – another low-scoring encounter – by six wickets.

In both matches, the track proved favourable to spinners but Hope said the key was to execute this time around regardless of conditions.

“It can be slightly unpredictable here at times with the surfaces here at Kensington but what I can see [from] looking on, it looks to be a decent surface so I think it should be a nice cricket wicket,” said the 30-year-old Barbadian.

“Regardless of what we do first we have to do it well so even if … the conditions are in our favour, we still have to perform well and execute out there.

“Sometimes a due factor would play a big part in these games. I’m not sure what the dew factor will be like here in Barbados but in Antigua it certainly has a lot to do with the games.”

The contest bowls off at 1:30 pm

SQUADS:
WEST INDIES – Shai Hope (captain), Alzarri Joseph (vice captain), Alick Athanaze, Yannic Cariah,, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Kjorn Ottley, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Oshane Thomas.

ENGLAND – Jos Buttler (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Ollie Pope, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, John Turner.