Liam Livingstone lamented the importance of the toss after England sank to a fifth successive series loss within the Caribbean because the West Indies cruised to an eight-wicket triumph within the ODI decider.
After Livingstone called incorrectly in Barbados, England stumbled to 24 for 4 on an initially tricky pitch to bat, offering tennis ball bounce and lateral movement for the Windies seamers.
England recovered to post 263 for eight but batting conditions had eased significantly when the reply began under lights, with the tourists having to contend with the evening dew as Brandon King and Keacy Carty made centuries to get the Windies home and hosed with seven overs to spare.
Because the hosts celebrated a 2-1 win, stand-in England captain Livingstone identified that the team that won the toss won the match on each occasion, with the side that needed to bat first in two ODIs in Antigua and one here at a definite drawback.
Tough Conditions
“The conditions weren’t very favourable to the team bowling second,” he said.
“It’s no excuse, we didn’t get enough runs but ultimately if we’d have gotten 350, I don’t think it could have mattered.
“The pitch went from being so slow to begin with to being absolutely drenched at the tip. Each balls were soaking, we modified it halfway through and that was soaking inside an over as well.
“I’ve played a variety of cricket on the planet and I don’t think I’ve ever played in a game where conditions have modified a lot from one innings to the subsequent.
“There’s no surprise that the team who the toss twice within the series won. This time of yr out here, it’s pretty difficult to bat first and defend a rating.”
Match Motion
Will Jacks and Livingstone, fresh from his match-winning 124 not out in Antigua on the weekend, were each caught behind aiming drives to deliveries that moved away a fraction and caught the sting.
There was little Jordan Cox could do after getting a glove to a brute of a lifter from Alzarri Joseph, while Jordan Bethell was well caught by Roston Chase as England were 4 down contained in the powerplay.
Phil Salt batted against type as he curbed his attacking instincts to register a mature 74 off 108 balls while Dan Mousley collected his first international fifty with 57 off 70 deliveries.
Jamie Overton, with 32 off 21, and Jofra Archer, 38 not out off 17 balls, made explosive cameos on the back end but England’s bowlers were largely ineffective and put to the sword by King and Carty.
England lost each white-ball series last yr, in addition to in Tests and T20s in 2022, while this was a thirteenth reverse in 20 ODIs for a side which have given youth and inexperience a likelihood on this visit.
Disappointment
“We’re dissatisfied,” Livingstone said.
“We’ve got a variety of young boys on this trip who’ve hopefully learnt a hell of lots about playing international cricket. Hopefully, that may stand us in good stead.
“I feel like we’ve taken one other step forward in the way in which we wish to play our cricket and we’ve got a variety of people to return back into this squad moving forward.”
Livingstone was initially dropped ahead of an ODI series against Australia in September, only to be recalled and he has since breathed fresh life back into his 50-over profession with some stunning knocks.
“I believe (his ODI profession) was just about dead three months ago,” the 31-year-old added. “I’m having fun with my cricket, I feel like I’m playing very well with the bat. That’s all I can do.
“I’m at an age now where I don’t control my profession. If I get chosen to play, I’ll do my best to attempt to win games for England, if I don’t get chosen then I don’t get chosen. I’ve proved during the last two series that I’m adequate to be on this team.”
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