Last Updated on 2 months by Charbel Coorey

T20 WC 2021 Match 14: ENG vs WI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | ENG vs WI Dream11 Prediction Today | England vs West Indies Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

Two teams whom many believe will qualify for the Semi Finals and contest for the title will do battle on a blockbuster opening day of the Super 12s. And, it is the finalists of the last World Cup in 2016, where ‘Remember the Name’ echoed loudly across the cricketing world.

Since then, England have embarked on a white-ball journey that has seen them lift the 50-over World Cup. Now, they will want to add another T20 World Cup to the cabinet after victory in the Caribbean in 2010. Indeed, both they and West Indies will be motivated to start their campaign well on a track that looks to be the best batting surface out of all three UAE grounds: Dubai.

Both teams will want to get on the board as Group 1 is one hell of a group. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have joined it, making every match a challenging one for all teams involved. Also, both sides have their challenges to deal with, but both also have undeniable strengths that makes it a huge risk to write either off in the tournament.

England are missing Ben Stokes and in particular Jofra Archer which leaves a gaping hole in their bowling attack. But, there is enough experience and firepower in the batting lineup to get enough runs on the board. West Indies’ lineup is full of players in their mid-to-late 30s – plus a man in his 40s – which will be a test in itself. However, many of these superstars are in good form and will be very keen for one last hurrah if that is indeed the case.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

England:

• Jos Buttler is capable of taking the game away from any opponent. The keeper-batsman struck a 51-ball 73 in his last outing in the warm up against New Zealand.
• Can Buttler turn around a moderate record both at Dubai and against West Indies? Buttler has struck 170 runs in nine T20s on this ground at an average of 18.89, as well as 180 runs in nine innings vs West Indies at an average of 25.71.
• Jonny Bairstow loves batting at Dubai. In 10 T20s on this ground, Bairstow has struck 323 runs at an average of 40.38 and strike rate of 127.17. So, England will be hoping Bairstow can build on his record vs West Indies that reads: 6 inns, 166 runs, avg. 27.66, SR 123.88.
• Bairstow also looked good in the warm ups, striking 30 (21) and 49 (36) against New Zealand and India respectively.
• Moeen Ali is certainly one to watch. The all-rounder was a key reason why CSK won the IPL Title, scoring 357 runs at an average of 25.50 and strike rate of 137.30. This included a 20-ball 37* in the Final on this ground. Also, Moeen showed great finishing form in the warm up against India, smashing a 20-ball 43*.
• Liam Livingstone had a disappointing IPL campaign, but his threat remains. He has struck 1,255 runs in 38 short-form matches this year (T20 and Hundred) at an average of 39.22 and strike rate of 154.94.
• Adil Rashid has a fine record against the Windies. In seven T20Is against them, Rashid has taken 11 wickets at an average of 11.27 and economy rate of 6.20. He will be key given the Windies’ propensity to lose wickets to leg-spin, and is coming off a haul of 3/18 vs New Zealand in the warm up match.
• David Willey also has a fine record against West Indies. He has taken 10 wickets in six matches against them at an average of 11.80 and strike rate of 10.2.
• Mark Wood took 3/9 in his only T20I vs West Indies to date, back in 2019. He is also coming off a brilliant spell of 4/23 in the warm up against New Zealand.

West Indies:

• Will the Windies pick Chris Gayle as opener? The Universe Boss has the most runs for any West Indies player against England in T20Is (408, avg. 34.08, SR 157.30).
• Gayle is having a tough year in T20s (37 inns, 692 runs, avg. 20.97, SR 128.39). Also, Gayle averages 23.67 in 12 T20s at Dubai. So, Windies might be best served batting him at opener if they choose him in the XI.
• Evin Lewis smashed 51 off 28 balls in his only T20I vs England so far, back in 2017. Lewis comes into the tournament in good form, with the second-most runs in CPL 2021 (426, avg. 47.33, SR 163.21) and a solid IPL campaign with the Royals (151 runs, avg. 30.50, SR 162.36).
• Roston Chase is labelled as the man who can play the Marlon Samuels role. He scored a half-century against Afghanistan in the warm up, but it was a big struggle (54* off 58 balls). Chase was outstanding in CPL, with the most runs of any player (446, avg. 49.55, SR 144.33).
• Skipper Kieron Pollard has historically struggled against England in T20Is (6 inns, 43 runs, avg. 10.75, SR 134.37). He does, however, have a fine T20 record at Dubai: 29 inns, 583 runs, avg. 32.39, SR 160.16.
• Andre Russell averages just 17.75 in eight T20Is vs England and 15.67 in 12 T20s at Dubai. He does have 16 wickets on this ground, though, and we all know Russell can influence the match with bat and ball.
• Dwayne Bravo, who was key to St Kitts’ and CSK’s success, has taken 39 wickets in 36 T20s this year, and will be key at the death. He has the most wickets in ENG-WI T20Is with 12 in 12 matches at an average of 25.33 and strike rate of 17.
• Obed McCoy has taken 24 wickets in 13 T20s this year. Ravi Rampaul was outstanding in the recent CPL, taking 19 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 16.21 and strike rate of 12.2.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 18, England 7, West Indies 11.
• West Indies lead England 5-0 in meetings at T20 World Cups.
• West Indies have lost both their two T20Is at Dubai, against Pakistan in 2016. England have won four and lost two at this ground.
• Jason Roy showed some good form in the recent IPL, striking 150 runs in his five innings in the UAE leg. This included a score of 60 at Dubai against the Rajasthan Royals.
• Eoin Morgan has the most runs of any player in the current England squad against West Indies: 12 inns, 221 runs, avg. 27.62, SR 127.01.
• Nicholas Pooran is coming off a poor IPL 2021 campaign. He does have a half-century in three T20Is against England and strikes at 158.79 in 11 T20s at Dubai (289 runs), so is this the day he fires?

Possible Playing 11

England’s highest-ranked T20I batsman Dawid Malan is at most risk of missing the XI. Moeen Ali’s exploits in the top four in T20 cricket makes him too good an option to waste down the order. Also, Liam Livingstone’s form in the middle order for England has been fantastic this year.

England: 1. Jason Roy, 2. Jos Buttler (wk), 3. Jonny Bairstow, 4. Moeen Ali, 5. Liam Livingstone, 6. Eoin Morgan (c), 7. David Willey/Chris Woakes, 8. Chris Jordan, 9. Adil Rashid, 10. Mark Wood, 11. Tymal Mills

West Indies: 1. Evin Lewis, 2. Lendl Simmons/Chris Gayle, 3. Roston Chase, 4. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 5. Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Kieron Pollard (c), 7. Andre Russell, 8. Dwayne Bravo, 9. Akeal Hosein/Hayden Walsh Jr, 10. Obed McCoy, 11. Oshane Thomas/Ravi Rampaul

Dubai Pitch Report and Weather

The Dubai surface is arguably the best for batting out of the three UAE grounds, which raises the stakes even more for these two attacking batting lineups. The average first innings score in the recent IPL was 156.23, with CSK chasing 173 and then posting 192 themselves in the crunch matches.

Teams batting second won nine of the 13 matches, so expect the captain who wins the toss to choose to chase especially given there may be dew around. A warm and clear evening is forecast.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow
• Batsmen: Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer
• All-rounders: Andre Russell, Moeen Ali
• Bowlers: Mark Wood, Chris Woakes

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Match Prediction

A potential for a classic. West Indies have a great record vs England in World Cups, but England may just prevail in this one.