West Indies v England 1st Test Match Prediction & Betting Tips

England has landed in the West Indies and both countries will get involved in three Test series which will commence on April 8, 2015.The Windies toured England last time in 2012, took part in three Tests, lost two and another ended as a draw. The first ever Test series between two countries containing three matches was held in 1928 in England and the hosts whitewashed that at 3-0. Two countries have played 148 games so far in the longer versions of the game, the Caribbeans have an edge by winning 53 and the Englishmen clinched 45 whereas 50 produced no result.

The forthcoming series is going to be an important one for both teams as they will try to boost their confidence by grasping it. England played their last Test series against the visiting India and ended up by pocketing that by a difference of 3-1 as West Indies got a stick on their previous tour of South Africa who humiliated them 2-0 in three Test series.

Players to watch

Joe Root was the highest run getter in the series against India, hammered 518 runs at an awesome average of 103.60 with two hundreds and three centuries. Gary Balance followed him with 503, averaging 71.85 comprising two centuries and even fifties. Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Jos Buttler scored over two hundred runs as Jonathan Trott, Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance and Jos Buttler will assist them nicely. James Anderson was the star performer with 25 wickets while Stuart Broad and Chris Jordan impressed with the ball. James Tredwell, Mark Wood, Ben Stokes, Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett will add variety to home bowling.

The batting of the Windies will revolve around Shiv Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Darren Bravo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Jermaine Blackwood, Devon Smith, Shai Hope and Denesh Ramdin. Their composed bowling will be guarded by Sulieman Benn, Devendra Bishoo, Carlos Brathwaite, Jason Holder, Kemar Roach and Jerome Taylor.

Time & Venue

Monday, April 13 – Friday, April 17, 2015 @ 14:00 GMT, 10:00 local at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua.

Weather

Forecast of a few showers during the Test with the temperatures around 24-28ᵒC.

Toss

The winning skipper will opt to chase.

The Pitch

The strip will be variable in nature and the ball may swing a bit in the earlier part of the game.

Teams

West Indies – Denesh Ramdin (C), Kraigg Brathwaite, Sulieman Benn, Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor.

England – Alastair Cook (C), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Chris Jordan, Adam Lyth, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott, Mark Wood.

Prediction

Team England will be the favourites to win the first Test.