Both camps have endured contrasting series in the West Indies with the hosts mauled by the touring England.
It has left West Indies once again looking to solve their ongoing issues, while England’s one-day turnaround continues and they are no doubt one of the favourites for Champions Trophy on home soil this summer.
All this and more feature in our five things that we have learned from the ODI series in the Caribbean.
PLUNKETT AND FINN ARE IN THE FRAME
At 31, Liam Plunkett has added several new strings to his bow. He did not hide the fact he was annoyed to be left out of last winter’s white-ball tour of South Africa. He is now emphatically no longer just about pace. He has a growing collection of variation deliveries.
Steven Finn, meanwhile, arrived as the spare seamer but stepped in when injury struck Jake Ball and soon bagged his 100th ODI wicket.
HALES IS CENTRAL TO PLANS
What s special feeling today was! Awesome to win the series 3-0 #ENGvsWI
— Alex Hales (@AlexHales1) March 9, 2017
Alex Hales had endured a taxing winter to date, sitting out Bangladesh because of security fears after losing his Test place and then breaking his hand on the new-year trip to India.
But after six white-ball matches on the sidelines, he returned with a man-of-the-match century, leaving little doubt that he is the man to partner Jason Roy against the new ball in the Champions Trophy.
BUTTLER NEEDS TO FIND FORM
England prescribed an extended Indian Premier League campaign for the supremely-gifted Jos Buttler. After he took his whiteball aggregate to 88 runs in eight innings so far this year, it may be just what he needs to be performing at a world-class level with Mumbai Indians but away from the spotlight of his native supporters on international duty.
STOKES CAN HIT BACK
Ben Stokes had his moment of payback on Carlos Brathwaite for the 2016 ICC World T20 mauling when he had him lbw on DRS with the only ball he bowled at him all series.
Stokes was evidently riled afterwards by Jonathan Carter, to the extent that he was spoken to by the umpire. There appeared little need to become embroiled in any such exchange with England coasting to a resounding victory.
WEST INDIES HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO
Coach Stuart Law rightly identified ‘glimpses’ of encouragement after the hosts pushed England in Antigua before running badly out of steam in Barbados. Dropped catches, and evident frailty at the top of the order, both cost the Windies dear.
Already on the outside looking in this summer, it will be a triumph of sorts if West Indies manage to qualify for the ICC World Cup in 2019.
