In a repeat match of the last edition’s final, England take on defending champions West Indies in Match 14 of the 2021 T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday evening.

Termed as one of the favorites to lift the title, England will be hoping that the side can kick-start their campaign on a positive note. They come into this tournament after winning 4 of their last 5 T20I series, losing just 5 games out of 17 played. The team faltered at the final step last time around, losing to the same opponents.

On the other hand, West Indies will be looking to turn their inconsistent T20 form around in this tournament. In 14 T20Is played this year, the team has won 8 and lost 6. The squad is full of T20 superstars and the management will be hoping that they can come to the party here. Coming to the T20 World Cups, West Indies have managed to win all of the five matches played against England.

 Match Details

• Game: England vs. West Indies, Match 14
• Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
• Date & Time: Oct. 23, 2021, at 7:30 PM IST/6 PM Local

Probable Playing XI

England

Jason Roy, Jos Buttler (WK), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Eoin Morgan (C), David Willey, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Chris Jordan, Tymal Mills

West Indies

Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Kieron Pollard (C), Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Ravi Rampaul, Obed McCoy, Hayden Walsh Jr.

Weather Report

The weather in Dubai is predicted to be hot and humid, with the temperature expected to be around 32 degrees during the match.

Pitch Report

Although the pitches in Dubai have traditionally favored pace bowlers, there has been ample help for the spinners this season. The batters have struggled to put up big scores consistently here, which has led to some close and exciting contests in the previous matches. The average score on this pitch during the Indian T20 League this season has been 157 runs.

Toss

The team batting second has won 9 of the last 13 matches played here as the pitch tends to get a little better to bat on as the evening progresses. Putting a total on the board is proving to be more difficult in Dubai. That being said, a first-innings score of around 170 runs can be a competitive one here.

Top Fantasy Picks

Wicketkeeper

• Jos Buttler is a game-changer at the top of the order for England. He has scored 1871 runs in his T20I career at an average of 31.71 and a strike rate of 139.83. He hasn't played competitive cricket lately but will be raring to go here.

Batters

• Jason Roy has got immense power and can hit the ball a long way. His recent experience with the Hyderabad team in the UAE conditions would have helped him prepare for the tournament. He scored 150 runs at a strike rate of 123.96, with 1 fifty to his name.
• Evin Lewis enjoys a reputation for hitting big sixes. He was the second-highest run scorer in the Caribbean T20 League and did well in the second leg of the Indian T20 League for Rajasthan, scoring 151 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 162.36, including a sensational half century.

All-rounder

• Dwayne Bravo, a veteran of more than 500 T20s, is a player to have on your team. He recently played five matches for Chennai here, including the final that his team went on to win. His best figures of the tournament, 3 for 25, came against Mumbai at this venue.

Bowlers

• Tymal Mills is a T20 specialist who has a lot of variations and can execute yorkers well at the death. He has picked up 156 wickets in his T20 career at an economy rate of 7.77. Mills has been in great wicket-taking form, with 10 wickets in his last four matches.
• Obed McCoy has been good in his short T20I career for the West Indies, taking 19 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 16.21 and best figures of 4/22. In the T20I series against Australia at home in July, he had 11 wickets in five matches. 

Howzat Dream Team

• Wicketkeeper: J Buttler, J Bairstow
• Batters: J Roy, E Lewis, S Hetmyer
• All-rounders: M Ali, D Bravo, A Russell
• Bowlers: A Rashid, T Mills, O McCoy

• Captain: J Buttler/T Mills
• Vice Captain: E Lewis/A Russell

NOTE: The Howzat dream team above is just a suggestion. You can select your own fantasy 11, and play all the fantasy cricket matches from the T20 World Cup. Also, don’t forget to make any necessary changes to your team once the actual playing 11 is announced by each team (30 minutes before the start of the match) as some players you have selected might not be part of the team suggested.

Get fantasy cricket tips on your favorite fantasy sports app and select your own team, Howzat!