Fresh off a commanding 3-0 sweep in the ODI leg, England are brimming with confidence as they gear up to face the West Indies in a thrilling three-match T20I series, starting this Friday at Durham’s Chester-le-Street.
The last time these two sides locked horns in a T20I series was in November 2024, when England bounced back from a narrow 2-1 ODI defeat to clinch a 3-1 T20I series win. That tour marked a transitional moment — Marcus Trescothick stepped in as interim head coach following Matthew Mott’s departure after the T20 World Cup semi-final exit. The team rose to the occasion: Liam Livingstone embraced added responsibility, Saqib Mahmood proved a menace with the new ball, Jacob Bethell made his mark, and Jos Buttler returned from injury to lead the side to victory.
The Windies managed to take the fourth match of that series — chasing down 219 in just 19 overs — before the rain washed out a promising series finale, with the visitors flying at 44-0 after five overs. They also posted 182 in another game, proving that their T20 firepower is always a threat.
Historically, the Men in Maroon hold a narrow edge over England in this format. Out of 34 completed T20Is between the sides, the Windies lead 18-16 (per ESPNcricinfo). And on English soil, they have had the better of it, winning four out of seven matches.
This latest series also marks the beginning of a new era. With Brendon McCullum now firmly at the helm as white ball head coach, and Harry Brook stepping into the captaincy fresh off a 3-0 whitewash in his debut ODI series, there’s a renewed sense of belief in the England camp. Brook, full of confidence and eager to lead from the front, will be looking to stamp his authority on the shortest format and keep the winning momentum rolling.
Let the fireworks begin!
Ones to watch
England
Adil Rashid just cannot get enough of facing the West Indies in T20Is. England’s all-time leading spin wicket-taker across formats has been nothing short of sensational against the Men in Maroon, picking up 36 wickets at a superb economy of just 6.05. No one has done it better for England in the shortest format against the Windies.
Jos Buttler is riding a wave of T20 form after a standout IPL campaign with the Gujarat Titans, where he piled up 538 runs at a blistering strike rate of 163.03. Jamie Smith, stepping in for the absent Phil Salt, also made a statement this week — blasting 64 off just 28 balls at the Kia Oval on Tuesday. It was the kind of knock that wasn’t far off the pace of Buttler’s record-breaking 46-ball century against Pakistan, the fastest ever by an England player in ODIs.
Meanwhile, the weight of white-ball captaincy does not seem to be fazing Brook one bit. The 25-year-old looked composed and confident throughout the ODI leg, posting scores of 58, 47, and an unbeaten 26*. Will Jacks, too, looks to be thriving in his new role as finisher. He delivered when it mattered most, stitching together two match-winning partnerships—first with Jacob Bethell, then with Joe Root—that proved crucial in sealing the series sweep.
Finally, adding depth and balance, the ever-reliable Liam Dawson returns to England’s T20I setup. A devastatingly consistent performer for Hampshire in both red and white-ball cricket, Dawson continues to rack up wickets and score valuable runs at the backend of an innings.
West Indies
Veteran all-rounder Jason Holder has a habit of making life difficult for England, with 23 wickets against the Three Lions at a stingy average of just 8.55 in T20Is. Akeal Hosein has been another consistent thorn in England’s side, racking up 21 wickets at an economy of 7.35—no easy feat in the shortest format for a spinner.
Then there’s the ever-explosive Andre Russell. Across 16 T20Is against England, he’s blasted 201 runs and taken 12 wickets, proving just how dangerous he can be. He’s also on the cusp of a historic milestone — just three sixes away from becoming only the third player in history to hit 750 T20 sixes.
Sherfane Rutherford has been in fine touch too, with his IPL 2025 campaign yielding 291 runs at a fiery strike rate of 157.29. He’s now just 49 runs shy of the 3,000-run mark in T20 cricket.
Up top, the opening duo of Evin Lewis and Shai Hope bring world-class quality. When they fired with scores of 68 (31) and 54 (24) in the 4th T20I of their last series against England, the Windies cruised to victory. Lewis himself is just 16 runs away from reaching 6,500 T20 runs, and Johnson Charles is equally capable of early damage.
Do not sleep on Romario Shepherd either — one of the most destructive finishers in world cricket right now. Known for rescuing innings from the brink, he played a key role alongside Salt in helping RCB lift the IPL trophy this year. When he’s at the crease, no total is safe.
Team news
England
All-rounder Dawson has earned a well-deserved recall to England’s T20I setup for the first time since September 2022. The 35-year-old Hampshire left-arm spinner will feature exclusively in the T20 leg, looking to build on his 11 appearances with the ball and bat.
Joining the squad is Luke Wood, bringing genuine left-arm pace to bolster the attack. Meanwhile, Phil Salt will miss the series as he takes paternity leave — buoyed by his IPL title with RCB and the arrival of his new born baby. Not a bad few weeks! Congratulations, Salty! Smith steps in as Salt’s replacement.
Making way from the ODI squad are Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson (both unfortunately sidelined by injury anyway), along with Tom Hartley and Joe Root. In come Rehan Ahmed, Dawson, and Wood.
West Indies
T20 cricket remains the West Indies’ strongest suit, and they’ve brought back some serious firepower for this series. Andre Russell and Jason Holder return to the squad — Holder, in particular, hasn’t featured in a T20I since February 2024 but impressed as one of the standout bowlers for Islamabad United in the 2025 Pakistan Super League. Romario Shepherd, fresh off his IPL title win, is also expected to feature and brings valuable lower-order hitting and death-over bowling.
However, in a surprising twist, Nicholas Pooran — arguably the Windies’ most in-form batter — has been left out of the T20I squad, raising eyebrows ahead of the series.
How the squads shape up
England: Harry Brook – Captain, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Potts, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood
West Indies: Shai Hope – Captain, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd.
Barmy Army prediction
There’s no doubt that T20 is the West Indies’ strongest format, and this series is shaping up to be far more competitive than the one-sided ODI leg. The Men in Maroon boast serious firepower throughout their batting order — Hope and Charles can set a rapid platform, while Russell remains one of the most feared finishers in world cricket. They’ve already shown what they’re capable of, chasing 219 in just 19 overs and racking up 182 in another match during last November’s series.
While unpredictable, this Windies side has the ability to pile on big runs when conditions suit — and they’ll back themselves to do it again.
That said, England have plenty of firepower of their own. With Ben Duckett, Buttler, and new captain Brook anchoring a dangerous top six, they’ve got both the depth and explosiveness to match the Windies blow for blow. Add in home advantage and the momentum from a dominant 3-0 ODI series win, and England will head into this T20I showdown full of confidence.
Expect fireworks, close contests, and plenty of sixes — but we’re backing England to edge it. Our prediction: a hard-fought 2-1 series win for the Three Lions.
Match Details
- 1st T20I: Friday 6 June, 6:30 PM – Chester-le-Street, Durham
- 2nd T20I: Sunday 8 June, 2:30 PM – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol
- 3rd T20I: Tuesday 10 June, 6:30 PM – Utilita Bowl, Southampton
Weather Watch
No rain is currently forecast for Friday’s opener, but it’ll be very cloudy — and with heavy rain expected the day before, conditions could be a bit tricky. Chester-le-Street is known to favour bowlers when there’s moisture and cloud cover, so don’t be surprised if the seamers steal the show early on.
How to Watch England vs West Indies
Catch every ball of the England vs West Indies T20I series live on Sky Sports Cricket — don’t miss a moment of the action!
Looking ahead to the summer of cricket in the UK
Whether it’s thrilling IT20 & ODI clashes against West Indies and South Africa, the Barmy Army will be in full voice at venues across the UK. With limited availability, now is the perfect time to secure your tickets.
ARTICLE WRITTEN BY JOE TURNER.
