Is Ben Stokes the lacking piece of white-ball puzzle for Harry Brook’s England? | Cricket Information

Harry Brook lauded England’s depth with the bat after they chased down 197 to beat West Indies and clinch the T20I sequence with a sport to spare.

England swept West Indies 3-0 within the ODI sequence and made it 5 wins on the bounce towards the vacationers with a four-wicket victory in Bristol as Brook sealed his second sequence win having been captain for simply 11 days.

The hosts had been made to work for his or her victory, with the run-rate climbing previous 11 an over at one stage as they chased West Indies’ formidable complete which Brook thought-about below-par in mild of the firepower in his ranks.

“I’ve mentioned loads of occasions, we now have loads of depth” he informed Sky Sports activities. “With small boundaries right here, we felt West Indies had been below par by about 30 runs.

“It provides us nice confidence figuring out we have Will Jacks, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell batting 5, six and 7. The highest order can go on the market all weapons blazing.

“It’s a nice begin from the boys within the T20s. We had loads of enjoyable on the market. We chased the rating superbly.”

Atherton: England very assured of run chase

Brook fielded two seamers within the type of Brydon Carse and Luke Wooden, a method that instantly paid dividends as Wooden struck with the primary ball of the sport to take away Evin Lewis on his return to the T20 group.

Parts of the daring choice had been exploited by West Indies, who smashed 82 off their final 5 overs, together with hitting Adil Rashid for 5 sixes in a 31-run nineteenth over – the second most costly by an English bowler in T20s – however regardless of that unwavering confidence endured.

And England caught collectively to recover from the road, with 5 of their prime six making helpful contributions earlier than Bethell and Banton took the bull by the horns, the middle-order duo hammering 56 off simply 21 deliveries between them to maintain the nice occasions rolling for Brook.

“Brook actually likes that depth. We noticed that within the stability of the ODI facet,” Sky Sports activities’ Michael Atherton mentioned.

“That’s how he likes to play. It is largely how Eoin Morgan went about shaping his facet, confidence with the down under to permit the highest order to play with nice freedom.

“We had [Luke] Wooden within the pod for the primary couple overs of England’s reply, and never for one second did he give off the sense that West Indies had sufficient runs.

“England had been very assured that 190-odd was not sufficient, as a result of this can be a very troublesome floor to defend on.”

England hanging their hats on Stokes?

If Brook is to stick with fielding such an array of batting expertise, the necessity for a real all-rounder solely will increase.

Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull thinks Check captain Stokes – who clinched the T20 World Cup in 2022 on his final look within the format for England – is the person for the job.

“I believe England may be hanging their hats on convincing Stokes to play within the 2026 T20 World Cup,” he mentioned.

“I am critical! They totally consider in that dressing room, and in that administration group, that they may persuade him to play.

“He then fills that position meaning they will go in with two real seamers, Stokes after which the spin choices they need within the facet, which incorporates Bethell, Jacks, Rashid.”

England vs West Indies white-ball fixtures

All occasions UK and Eire; all video games stay on Sky Sports activities

One-day worldwide sequence (Could-June)

• First ODI, Edgbaston: England gained by 238 runs
• Second ODI, Cardiff: England gained by three wickets
• Third ODI, The Oval: England gained by seven wickets

T20 worldwide sequence (June)

• First T20I, Chester-le-Avenue: England gained by 21 runs
• Second T20I, Bristol: England gained by 4 wickets
• Third T20I: Tuesday June 10 (6.30pm) – Southampton

Watch the third T20 worldwide between England and West Indies, stay on Sky Sports activities Cricket from 6pm on Tuesday (first ball, 6.30pm). Stream cricket with NOW