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England vs West Indies LIVE: T20 World Cup latest score and updates

England vs West Indies LIVE: T20 World Cup latest score and updates

Follow all the action as England begin their T20 World Cup campaign against reigning champions West Indies.

Eoin Morgan’s side will attempt to banish the woes of 2016 when Carlos Braithwaite hit four monstrous sixes in the final over to vanquish Ben Stokes and complete a tremendous chase. “It’s definitely going to be in the back of their minds. For us to be in that situation and get over the line, it shows that sort of never-say-die attitude,” said West Indies captain Kieran Pollard, who missed the final due to injury five years ago. “I thought what Carlos did in those four deliveries in that last over, it’s unbelievable. It’s something that as a team we actually saw last night and it brought goosebumps back to us.”

Morgan has kept his cards close to his chest over his team selection, with plenty of scrutiny on the captain himself due to his poor recent form, and England can afford few slip-ups in a tricky group. If they can prevail in spin-friendly conditions in Dubai, though, and add the T20 World Cup to their ODI crowd, Morgan will go down as one of cricket’s great captains. “The name of the country on the shirt is irrelevant really when it comes to a World Cup,” he said of the task in front of his team. “You need to prove your worth through performance.” Follow all the latest updates below:

England vs West Indies

  • West Indies all out for 55

Goodbye!

17:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle

That was magnificent from England, the perfect way to exorcise some lingering demons from five and a half years ago with a total dismantling of this outstanding West Indies batting line-up. Eoin Morgan’s bowling attack were utterly faultless with the ball, executing their plans excellently even in the absence of Mark Wood. A slightly nervy batting performance did not much take the shine off and that’s a real statement first-up.

That just about does it for our live coverage - we’ll be back tomorrow for the small matter of India against Pakistan. Do join us for that, and thank you for your company.

I leave with you with Vithushan Ehantharajah’s report - farewell!

England beat West Indies by six wickets to produce statement start to T20 World Cup

Next up...

17:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The West Indies are next in action on Tuesday, where they face today’s other beaten team, South Africa. They will need to reset quickly - after such a heavy defeat they can ill-afford to prolong a bad start to their time in the Middle East.

England, meanwhile, get an extra day to celebrate and recuperate. Bangladesh are their next opposition in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday 27 October. Bangladesh could be troublesome with a varied, deep spin attack that will look for similar chinks to those found by Akeal Hosein today.

And now Eoin Morgan to Sky Sports

17:42 , Harry Latham-Coyle

“It’s as good as it gets, really. Full credit has to go to our bowlers. The guys were very disciplined and we took all of our chances. They are some of the hardest catches in the game, running back over your shoulder or back-pedalling. Hopefully it continues like that.

Of the usage of Moeen Ali, Morgan explains: “He summed up conditions beautifully. He took chances when his match-ups were right. The reason he hasn’t always featured as much is due to conditions but he is going to be a huge contributor throughout the competition for us.

On Tymal Mills: “I’m delighted for Big T. He’s as good as I’ve seen him, bowling fit, and his fielding has drastically improved.”

The defeated skipper speaks

17:39 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Also having a chat with Sky Sports is West Indies captain Kieron Pollard:

“There are no words to explain it. We accept the responsibility. We just have to bin it and move on. We haven’t batted well in the games so far (including the two warm-up games) but we have to move on from it.

“I don’t think any sort of panic will come into the camp. It is plain to see what it is. This is international sport. We play a lot of cricket all around the world and this is not something that is new to any one of us. It is easy for us to move on. We need to accept it - we have another game in three days time and each game in this group is important.

Of Akeal Hosein, Pollard says: “Everything happens for a reason and he’s got an opportunity to show the world what he can do. He has done well in the CPL bowling some hard over. From here, it should only be up.”

A big boost

17:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Net Run Rate can be a curious beast with a few vagaries in calculation, but that could be crucial should England stumble later on in the group stage.

Player of the Match - Moeen Ali

17:31 , Harry Latham-Coyle

He started the collapse with a brilliant spell with the hard new ball, and though his spin partner Adil Rashid’s figures were more eye-catching, it’s hard to argue with Ali getting the gong, particularly having also taken a good catch to secure the first wicket.

“My first over was nice until the six and the catch gave me a bit of confidence,” Moeen tells Sky Sports. “It helps with so many left-handers in their team but because I’ve been playing cricket and bowling alright, I wasn’t that nervous.

“My role with Chennai means I am really involved with bat and ball which is great preparation for this World Cup.”

England beat the West Indies by six wickets with 70 balls remaining

17:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A demolition. A couple of brief hiccups with the bat but that is about as comprehensive as it gets for England, superb with the ball, safe in the field and able to enjoy an early night. The winning runs came courtesy of a firm pull through backward square leg to another short-of-a-length ball from Pollard, with Jos Buttler boosting the average with an unbeaten 24.

A modicum of revenge for Carlos Braithwaite’s blasts in Kolkata and Eoin Morgan’s side have started in perfect fashion.

 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

ENGLAND WIN BY SIX WICKETS!

17:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England 52-4 (8.1)

17:23 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Pollard now brings himself on. After a spell without being a regular bowler he’s trundled in slightly more often this year for both the West Indies and in franchise cricket for the Mumbai Indians and others, and Buttler takes two to a diving sweeper with a firm cut to move England closer...

England 50-4 (8)

17:22 , Harry Latham-Coyle

An appeal from the West Indies as Morgan misses another attempted hook as Obed McCoy hammers away on a short length. Nothing doing, as the conciliatory nod from wicket-keeper Nicholas Pooran to the bowler confirms as Kieron Pollard considers the review.

FOUR! England 50-4 (7.4)

17:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Four, but so nearly out! It’s so close to a properly spectacular catch from sub fielder Hayden Walsh, another fine fielding spinner, but the former USA international can’t quite get his finger-tips over a loose hook from Eoin Morgan, who can struggle against the short ball.

Away for four and England are one hit away.

England 46-4 (7.3)

17:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The West Indies are producing some ridiculously talented fielders who bowl left-arm spin. The man that Hosein replaced in the squad, Fabian Allen, is one of the world’s best and both he and Hosein have made a habit of taking spectacular catches in the CPL.

England 43-4 (7)

17:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Morgan could do with some runs, not that there are too many left to get. He starts confidently, finding the fielders in the deep to quickly collect two singles.

Akeal Hosein completes his four-over spell with a dot: 4-0-24-2 for the left-arm spinner. A disastrous day with the bat for the West Indies but Hosein has been a positive and will continue to have a key role in this side.

It is! The wicket stands! England 39-4 (6.1)

17:14 , Harry Latham-Coyle

There have already been some great grabs in the first round, with Papua New Guinea’s fielding particularly standing out, but that’s pretty close to nailed on to be among the leading contenders for catch of the tournament. A moment of magnificence from a very talented cricketer.

Eoin Morgan is England’s new batter. They couldn’t, could they?

Hold on!

17:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Third umpire Chris Brown is checking this. It appears they are concerned that Hosein may have landed on the ball and thus ground it as he’s tried to prevent himself doing serious damage after a display of spectacular acrobatics.

That all looks fine to me, but we’re having a further look at an alternative angle - I think that is safely in his grasp, surely?

OUT! Liam Livingstone c & b Hosein 1 (2b 0x4 0x6), England 39-4 (6.1)

17:11 , Harry Latham-Coyle

WHAT A CATCH! That is simply sensational off his own bowling from Akeal Hosein!

Liam Livingstone pushes hard at another of Hosein’s cramping deliveries that move in to the right-hander, and again chips back vaguely in the bowler’s direction. Hosein leaps full length to his left, plucking the ball from mid-air like a chameleon’s tongue snaring an unfortunate fly as he grasps it in his left hand.

End of the powerplay

17:08 , Harry Latham-Coyle

That’s the end of the powerplay with England needing 17 to complete what should be a comprehensive win. The West Indies are permitted to spread the field but Kieron Pollard is instead again asking for a helmet to go in to silly point as Akeal Hosein readies himself to complete his allocation. Just as England did, West Indies give their tweaker four on the spin to start.

England 39-3 (6)

17:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle

No-ball! McCoy over-steps as he extends his leg slightly too far in delivering a back-of-the-hand slower ball.

Can Jos Buttler take toll? No, a drag to mid-wicket and some perhaps understandably cautious running means it will only be one from the free hit.

OUT! Moeen Ali run out (Lewis/McCoy) 3 (4b 0x4 0x6), England 36-3 (5.3)

17:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle

He has! It’s really poor from Moeen and Buttler. It looks like it should be the non-striker’s call and Moeen appears to be calling Buttler through, but the striker didn’t move and Moeen is caught three-quarters of the way down. A slightly inaccurate throw nearly grants him a reprieve but Obed McCoy is able to lunge for the stumps to complete the job and send Moeen back to the dressing room.

Liam Livingstone is next out of the door - Dawid Malan continues to slide down the order.

Is that out? The third umpire Chris Brown will check...

17:02 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Moeen Ali aimlessly charges down after Buttler had pushed to short third man and he might have been caught short retreating to the bowler’s end...

England 36-2 (5.1)

17:01 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Left-armer Obed McCoy, who after some early struggles at the highest level arrives in this tournament with a developing reputation as the next leader of this West Indies attack, replaces Ravi Rampaul. the England pair scramble two as Buttler cuts his first ball to the sweeper.

England 34-2 (5)

17:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Moeen manages to burgle a couple fine of fine leg as Hosein strays down the leg-side with another attempted arm-ball, so Pollard asks Chris Gayle to block the gap at leg slip. Moeen nonetheless pinches one into a space thus left elsewhere on the leg-side.

Buttler does similarly to close the fifth and retain the strike.

OUT! Jonny Bairstow c & b Hosein 9 (6b 2x4 0x6), England 30-2 (4.1)

16:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It’ll be a short stay for Jonny Bairstow! Akeal Hosein gets a third in the powerplay as Kieron Pollard searches desperately for an opening and his left-armer obliges, forcing Bairstow into a false shot with another cleverly delivered arm-ball that the England batter chips back to him. Hosein takes a good catch diving to his right.

Moeen Ali sent in at four to counter the left-arm spinner.

England 30-1 (4)

16:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Phwoar, that’s a good start. A smidge over-pitched from Rampaul and Bairstow is efficiently through the back of the ball, driving straight of mid-off for four.

The next ball is equally swiftly sent to the fence, this time through a vacant point region as Rampaul drags the ball wide of off-stump and Bairstow is able to release his muscular arms with a strong cut.

The final ball is tucked to square leg for a single.

England 21-1 (3.3 overs)

16:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Interestingly it is Jonny Bairstow rather than Dawid Malan who replaces Jason Roy. He starts with two defensive strokes.

OUT! Jason Roy c Gayle b Rampaul 11 (10b 0x4 1x6), England 21-1 (3.1)

16:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Now then? Ravi Rampaul rolls his fingers along the back and side of the ball as he throws in a slower ball on leg-stump. Jason Roy is through his shot early and unable to lift his leg-flick over a reaching Chris Gayle at midwicket. The West Indies have one.

England’s best men’s T20I figures

16:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England 21-0 (3)

16:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle

After a brief delay while umpire Aleem Dar directs some meddlesome children away from an area alongside the sightscreen in which they are playing, the two England openers take five singles from the remainder of the over.

SIX! England 16-0 (2.1)

16:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

That’s even better! Akeal Hosein continues and Jason Roy says a proper hello with a magnificent lofted drive over extra cover that sails into the first couple of rows of seats beyond a short-ish boundary.

FOUR! England 10-0 (2)

16:43 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Shot. A glorious unfurling of the wrists from Jos Buttler as he drives a length ball through point. That’s a lovely stroke.

England 6-0 (1.3)

16:41 , Harry Latham-Coyle

And Roy immediately takes the opportunity to nudge one wide of the bowler and trot through for a single to that long-on fielder.

England 5-0 (1.2)

16:41 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Nearly! Roy scurries down to try and prevent Rampaul setting into his length and is squared up by some away nip, the ball tumbling just short of backward point having taken a thick outside edge. That prompts a fielding change from Kieron Pollard - third man is beckoned inside the circle with mid-on pushed back to the boundary.

England 5-0 (1)

16:39 , Harry Latham-Coyle

To open at the other end will be the experienced Ravi Rampaul, rejuvenated and back amongst things in a West Indies shirt after a strong CPL. Can he cause Roy and Buttler some bother?

England 5-0 (1)

16:38 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Buttler tries to repeat the shot but this time finds mid-off, before blocking Hosein’s inswinging arm ball off the back foot to close the first set of six.

England ahead of the required rate, if you were wondering.

FOUR! England 5-0 (0.4)

16:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Gorgeous! Hosein tosses one up for the first time and Buttler wastes little time caressing him through the covers for the first boundary of England’s chase.

England 1-0 (0.2)

16:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Good from Hosein, finding a bit of early movement through the air with an upright seam that nearly hurries Roy and forces the England opener to drag his toes out of the path of the ball. Eventually it is punched quite nicely to long-on to get the scoring underway.

England 0-0 (0.1)

16:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Hosein saunters up to the crease from a distance and Jason Roy is confidently forward, driving to short extra cover, who fields to his right with a stoop.

Out come the openers

16:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Jason Roy and Jos Buttler shadow-bat as they make their first strides out to the middle, settling into a slow wander as they have a final chat, bats dragged along at their sides. Chris Gayle practices some off-breaks - I’m not sure he’ll be required, but he is the West Indies’ second spin option.

It will be Akeal Hosein to start, unsurprisingly, and Roy to face - he has spoken about liking to take strike even if the match-up suggests it should be Buttler. 56 to be hauled in, and the West Indies have Kieron Pollard at short leg (!) and Gayle at slip.

Can the West Indies defend this?

16:29 , Harry Latham-Coyle

No. Almost certainly not. England will be eyeing a big net run rate boost, you’d think.

But what might the West Indies try to put the cat amongst the pigeons? They could well start with spin - Akeal Hosein bowls regularly with the new ball for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League and matches up well with Jason Roy who will almost certainly take strike.

If they do get Roy early, England might be tempted to then go to either Jonny Bairstow or Moeen Ali, their two best hitters of spin, to negate further threat from Hosein, but it is an excellent chance for a red-inker for those in the top order - the run rate won’t be a problem, obviously.

A sorry start for the West Indies

16:23 , Harry Latham-Coyle

For a side that has assembled perhaps the most feared batting unit in Twenty20 cricket history, that was staggeringly bad from the West Indies. There was little change of approach having been knocked back early and they have been swiftly extinguished, completely unable to reset after those powerplay wickets. If the pitches remain bowler-friendly this could become a tournament of grinding out defendable scores in the manner that South Africa did earlier, and the West Indies really failed to adapt.

As for England, that was a study in the excellence of execution. Every plan was carried out perfectly and worked exactly as Chris Silverwood, Eoin Morgan and the strategists would have hoped. “A masterclass,” says Nasser Hussain, and it is impossible to disagree.

Tymal Mills speaks to Sky Sports on a perfect England performance in the field

16:19 , Harry Latham-Coyle

“It’s been a long time since I last played. We were quietly confident. It was really nice to be back out there and take a few wickets.

“I had a really good summer, played a lot of cricket for Sussex and in the Hundred. I think the pitch looks ok - we knew we had to be on our A-Game from ball one. We were relentless from ball one.

On Moeen Ali bowling four straight to start the innings: “You look at the match-ups at the start - Mo was bowling really well. It was a great decision from Eoin Morgan.”

OUT! Ravi Rampaul b Rashid 3 (8b 0x4 0x6) WEST INDIES ALL OUT FOR 55!

16:16 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Ravi Rampaul has a hopeless heave at a big leg-break from Adil Rashid and looks back to see the Zing bails flashing - that’s that for a horrible batting performance for the West Indies.

Rashid finishes with absurd figures of four for two from 2.2 overs, and England are in disbelief - they’ll need just 56 to get their campaign off to a perfect start.

West Indies 55-9 (14)

16:13 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Tymal Mills has essentially returned to the England set-up on the back of his ability to bowl more economically than just about anyone else in the death overs but he’ll be done and dusted for the evening, barring some grotesque with the bat from England, inside 15 overs today.

He finishes well, whispering sweet nothings in the ear of off stump as he beats Ravi Rampaul with a brisk length ball but frustrated to have not knocked it back. Rampaul adds one more to the tally from Mills’ final ball, and the left-armer will finish up with figures of 2-17 from his four. Quite the competitive return to an England shirt.

The perfect forward defence?

16:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Andre Russell is bowled by Adil Rashid (Getty Images)
Andre Russell is bowled by Adil Rashid (Getty Images)

West Indies 50-9 (13)

16:08 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Ravi Rampaul is the last man and he just about survives Rashid’s bid for three on the spin, the ball just evading his outside edge as Jos Buttler hollers his approval.

Ironic cheers from the crowd as the burly Rampaul pulls a single to the leg-side to bring up 50.

OUT! Obed McCoy c Roy b Rashid 0 (1b 0x4 0x6), West Indies 49-9 (12.2)

16:07 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Obed McCoy is gone now! Like Grampa Abe from the Simpsons, McCoy strides in, tosses his hat on the hanger and collects it on his way out as he also finds long-on with a dreadful drive for the briefest of stays.

Jason Roy follows his opening partner’s lead with a calm, comfortable catch and Adil Rashid is on a hat-trick...

OUT! Kieron Pollard c Bairstow b Rashid 6 (14b 0x4 0x6), West Indies 49-8 (12.1)

16:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle

EIGHT! Adil Rashid has another with the first ball of an over.

Kieron Pollard has had enough prodding and extends the arm through a tossed-up ball from Rashid, but it’s a nasty connection that settles in the safe hands of Jonny Bairstow at long-on.

West Indies 49-7 (12)

16:03 , Harry Latham-Coyle

West Indies are at least beyond the 45 they made against England in St Kitts in 2019. Scant consolation, maybe, but it is also not going to be the lowest total of the tournament - the Netherlands were bundled out for 44 yesterday by Sri Lanka’s dangerous bowling attack. Mills hustles through another economical over.

West Indies 45-7 (11)

15:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle

This has been absolutely first-rate from England. This pitch hasn’t necessarily possessed excessive gremlins but they’ve allowed the West Indies little loose to get their arms through, and it’s been a dismantling so far.

Akeal Hosein is the new man, able with the bat but in far, far, far earlier than a grumpy Phil Simmons would have liked. The West Indies head coach has a face of thunder as the camera pans his way after Hosein drives a single to long-off.

OUT! Andre Russell b Rashid 0 (2b 0x4 0x6), West Indies 44-7 (10.1)

15:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Here is Adil Rashid and he says an immediate farewell to Andre Russell! The leg-spinner starts as he so often does with a ball pushed out of the front of the hand, Russell nervily prodding at it but leaving an inviting gap between bat and pad.

The white Kookaburra duly shimmies through to call timber and invite Russell to be the latest to take the heavily-trodden route back to the West Indies dressing room.

15:53 , Harry Latham-Coyle

West Indies 44-6 (10)

15:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle

How do the West Indies play this? If Pollard and Russell are able to stick around for the next five overs or so there are few capable of accelerating at a greater tempo at the death, but you sense their attacking impulses may take charge at some stage in an attempt to put a degree of pressure back on England, who still have five overs from Adil Rashid or Liam Livingstone to come. Pollard drags his bat out of the way as Jordan gets his final delivery to lift off a length from a fifth stump line.

They’ll mull it all over during a drinks break.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

West Indies 44-6 (9.3)

15:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A stifled appeal from England as Kieron Pollard tries his best to play right around a full length ball from Chris Jordan. Pollard just about gets the inside half of his bat to it.

West Indies 42-6 (9)

15:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Russell seldom stands on ceremony but that’s bold even for him - a heave at his first ball outside off that might have ended up in Sharjah had he connected properly. He strikes only air and Mills oohs and aahs as he completes another good over for England.

OUT! Nicholas Pooran c †Buttler b Mills 1 (9b 0x4 0x6), West Indies 42-6 (8.5 overs)

15:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle

He’s got him this time! It’s pace on outside off again and Nicholas Pooran is unconvincing with his footwork, throwing disconnected hands at a ball that perhaps just leaves him in a touch from a fuller length. A thin, but audible, nick is safely pouched by Jos Buttler - six of the best for England.

Andre Russell strides out in rather troublesome circumstances.

West Indies 42-5 (8.4)

15:44 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Mills just struggling a touch with his radar here, twice pushing back-of-the-hand slower balls down the legside with Pooran unable to connect with wristy sweeps. The second is greeted with a grunt from Mills, who had also beaten the left-hander on the outside edge with a quicker one.

West Indies 41-5 (8.2)

15:42 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Tymal Mills has swapped ends and starts with a wide as he tries to keep the ball out of the reach of Pollard. It was a slower ball - Mills’ great strength is the variation in pace he is able to generate, down below 70mph when he changes down from his 90mph+ stock speed.

West Indies 38-5 (8)

15:39 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Pollard pushes a single to long-on to get off the mark to close Jordan’s first over. A dejected Shimron Hetmyer strokes his chin on the balcony, with Dwayne Bravo following suit.

Chris Jordan and Dawid Malan celebrate the wicket of Chris Gayle (Getty Images)
Chris Jordan and Dawid Malan celebrate the wicket of Chris Gayle (Getty Images)

OUT! Dwayne Bravo c Bairstow b Jordan 5 (5b 1x4 0x6), West Indies 37-5 (7.2)

15:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Another! This vaunted West Indies batting line-up is crumbling!

Bravo had cut Chris Jordan’s first ball for four over backward point and tries to double the dose, but only succeeds in skewing to Jonny Bairstow, who takes a sharp catch in front of him as Bravo fails to make proper contact with his cut. The West Indies are five down and in comes their captain. Kieron Pollard may have to perform miracles. This has been a disaster of a start for his side.

West Indies 33-4 (7)

15:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Superb from Moeen Ali. He’s not necessarily known as a particularly effective powerplay bowler but he has bowled brilliantly, tying down a placid Pooran and Dwayne Bravo for the concession of only two singles even after the field has spread. 4-1-17-2 his figures for the night - Eoin Morgan couldn’t have asked for any more, and that’s his fifth bowler, ostensibly, over and done with.

Chris Jordan replaces his former Sussex teammate Mills at the other end.

15:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Moeen Ali will complete his allocation with four off the reel as Nicholas Pooran arrives at number six. He’s such a dynamic batting talent with real strength against spin who has thrived in a similar situation before, but this will be a test of Pooran’s temperament.

OUT! Chris Gayle c Malan b Mills 13 (13b 3x4 0x6) West Indies 31/4 (6 overs)

15:29 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Chris Gayle is gone! Four for England in the powerplay and they begin to turn the screw!

Gayle had just scythed Mills over the offside for four and was this time looking to the leg side to another back-of-the-length ball, but is hurried for pace and can only spoon skywards. A back-pedalling Dawid Malan takes a good catch at mid-wicket, and Mills has his man. Everything has gone to plan for England - that’s precisely how they would have hoped to get rid of Gayle, who is gone without wreaking much havoc at all.

West Indies 27-3 (5.4)

15:27 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It was the ball that in many ways restarted Mills’ career, an exocet of a yorker at extreme pace that knocked over Gayle (playing for Somerset) on a bitterly cold spring day in 2016. It helped earn Mills an IPL gig, eventually ill-fated, but proved that a man who had once been one of England’s most promising talents could come again as a T20 specialist after such injury strife.

There have been ups and downs since but Mills has evolved into an outstanding bowler with a unique approach, and he starts well here, with four dot balls as Gayle swings airily at a couple.

West Indies 27-3 (5)

15:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle

There it is - West Indies promote a right-hander. Dwayne Bravo is thrown up the order all the way from number eight to break up the left-handers and try to prevent England continuing to use Moeen against them. He sees out the remainder of the over, and that’s an outstanding opening twirl from Moeen, who is playing with such confidence after starring for IPL winners the Chennai Super Kings. Three overs, two for fifteen for the off-spinner.

Tymal Mills replaces Chris Woakes for the final over the powerplay - he’s got history against Chris Gayle...

OUT! Shimron Hetmyer c Morgan b Ali 9 (9b 2x4 0x6), West Indies 27-3 (4.4 overs)

15:22 , Harry Latham-Coyle

But he’s gone! A loud exclamation from Hetmyer, furious with himself as he steps away from another attempted shot over mid-on,y failing to commit and timing it horrifically.

It floats gently into the hands of Eoin Morgan, and the England captain cannot believe his luck - his side have three inside the powerplay and the West Indies have been properly punctured.

FOUR! West Indies 27/2 (4.2 overs)

15:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Moeen gets a third in the powerplay but Hetmyer is in no mood to sit in against him, even after those early wickets. He first swings him over mid-on out of control for four but it is the second shot that is better, a gorgeous inside-out drive to the right of long-off that hops over the boundary. He’s a real talent - not sure about the blue iced gem haircut, though.

West Indies 19-2 (4)

15:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle

This could be a good battle. Woakes nearly forces an error from Gayle with another canny slower ball that floats dangerously off the outside half of the bat but short of the off-side ring. Gayle turns over the strike with a ball controlled push into a similar region.

A slip comes in for the last ball of the over at Hetmyer, with a sweeper cover pushed out. Hetmyer duly finds that fielder in the deep to get off the mark and retain the strike. Ten from the over.

FOUR! West Indies 17/2 (3.2)

15:16 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Woakes does continue and Chris Gayle is away - a trademark punch without ideal foot movement between extra cover and mid-off, beating a diving fielder to race to the boundary.

And again! This time an uppish slash that just evades a leaping Jason Roy at backward point. Not far away. This could be fun...

West Indies 9/2 (3)

15:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

This is a dream start for England. They will need to take powerplay wickets throughout this tournament, something that hasn’t been a strength in the last couple of years, but part of the reason for picking Chris Woakes in the squad was to strengthen in that regard. If Moeen can bowl his full quota it will aid Eoin Morgan’s team balance, too, and this is an outstanding start, completing a wicket maiden with a loud appeal as Shimron Hetmyer is beaten down the leg-side. That flicked the pad, though, and Jos Buttler indicates as much as he trots to the other end.

OUT! Lendl Simmons c Livingstone b Ali 3 (7b 0x4 0x6), West Indies 9/2 (2.2)

15:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle

What a curious shot! Both West Indies openers are gone! Lendl Simmons charges down the track as Ali just holds the ball back a touch, and Liam Livingstone is the grateful recipient of a dragged slog at deep midwicket. Livingstone swallows it like a greedy gull tossed a chip at the seaside and England have two inside three overs.

That’s strange from Simmons, who you’d have thought might have looked to play more of an anchor role. Shimron Hetmyer replaces him - two left-handers for Moeen to now target.

West Indies 9-1 (2)

15:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

An excellent over from Chris Woakes, making his first appearance at a WorldT20 or T20 World Cup ten years after making his international debut in the format. Gayle shoulders arms to the final ball of the over after Simmons had again handed over strike.

Moeen to continue.

OUT! Evin Lewis c Ali b Woakes 6 (5b 0x4 1x6), West Indies 8/1 (1.3)

15:08 , Harry Latham-Coyle

There’s the first wicket. Lewis is eyeing something jaunty down the ground again but gets underneath it, skying it high over mid-off. Moeen trots back and takes a fine catch over his shoulder with extended arms. Good bowling from Woakes, a slower ball that deceived Lewis.

Chris Gayle replaces his fellow left-hander at the crease.

West Indies 8-0 (1.1)

15:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle

To kick things off at the other end will be Chris Woakes, unsurprisingly. England may like for him to bowl as many as three overs in the powerplay for that is the phase in which he can be at his best. Simmons gets his second run with another leg-side nudge from Woakes’ opening ball.

SIX! West Indies 7-0 (1 over)

15:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Evin Lewis blocks his first ball, drives his second to a fielder and then, after a ball from Moeen drifts delightfully into his arc, lofts a gorgeous straight drive back over the bowler’s head for the innings’ first maximum. Miss your mark even slightly and that is what the attacking left-hander will do.

West Indies 1-0 (0.3)

15:02 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Lendl Simmons gets off the mark from the third ball, going back to a ball that skids on and flicking it out to deep midwicket for a jogged one. Over to Evin Lewis, who can struggle against spin. Chris Jordan in at slip - he’s outstanding off the spinners in there.

West Indies 0-0 (0.1)

15:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The first ball is a flighted off-break which Simmons, in a cap, pushes back to a diving Moeen. We’re away!

Here we go!

14:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Two titanic Twenty20 sides, and a blockbuster opening night in the Super 12 stage of a long-awaited tournament. Five and a half years on from Carlos Braithwaite’s demolition of Ben Stokes at Eden Gardens, it’s the West Indies vs England again in a Twenty20 World Cup, and Moeen Ali has the ball to kick things off against Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis.

The right-handed Simmons will face first after both sets of players take a knee to an ovation from the crowd.

Anthem time in Dubai

14:57 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The two squads and match officials have made their way out onto the surfaceat the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which appears to be largely populated by empty seats. A few vibrant red and blue England shirts in amongst the swathes of plastic, though. A 70% capacity is allowed at this tournament across all venues but we are some way short of that today.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Strategy chat - How will West Indies use their deep batting order?

14:53 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Had Fabian Allen been fit the West Indies might have had Bravo all the way down at number nine in the order, freakish batting depth that is only slightly reduced with the handy Akeal Hosein now stationed there. The West Indies must figure out how best to structure that depth, though - Shimron Hetmyer has tended to be used in the top four but had a standout IPL with Delhi as a finisher, so Pollard, a slower starter, could be utilised in his stead to break up the left-handers and afford their captain the slower start he sometimes favours.

Nicholas Pooran could be key. He’s an outstanding hitter of spin who could also negate the impact of Ali and perhaps force Eoin Morgan to go away from Adil Rashid - which might leave England short of overs or forced to use death specialists Tymal Mills and Chris Jordan earlier than he would like.

Strategy chat - Wood’s absence a big blow for England

14:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Mark Wood hasn’t necessarily played too much short-form cricket in the last few months after his own struggles with injury but he was shaping as a key player for this team, and he’s a big miss for this game particularly. England aren’t short of high pace with Tymal Mills and Chris Jordan plenty quick enough, but in terms of specific roles, England don’t now have someone to replicate Wood’s likely enforcer role through the middle. Wood excels at hurrying a batter from a back of a length, a tactic that has proved incredibly effective in this format in the last couple of years, led by bowlers like Anrich Nortje in the IPL.

It would have been a useful ploy against this power-hitting West Indian middle order, who are so strong hitting length deliveries and anything short. I’d expect a heavy dose of Moeen Ali today, though - there are four left-handers in the West Indian top five for his off-spin to target. We’ll see if Kieron Pollard or Dwayne Bravo perhaps get pushed up as an attempt to counter Moeen.

A crucial toss?

14:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Chasing in Twenty20 cricket tends to be the favoured approach and England have been expecting heavy dew during this competition, which should help their batters as the ball begins to slide on later and bowlers start to lose their grip. You’d say Eoin Morgan will be rather pleased to have a chance to chase a total down - it was a strategy that worked so well in the lead up to and at the 2019 World Cup, of course.

Team News - West Indies

14:43 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The West Indies have gone with one specialist spinner, darty left-armer Akeal Hosein, and loaded up on seamers with Obed McCoy and Ravi Rampaul getting the nod ahead of Oshane Thomas’ muscular pace. They join Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell as likely bowling options with Kieron Pollard perhaps set to contribute, too, but Chris Gayle might need to toss up some of his off-breaks against England’s left-handers if the pitch turns.

West Indies XI: Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Kieron Pollard (c), Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Akeal Hosein, Obed McCoy, Ravi Rampaul

Team News - England

14:39 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Big news - Mark Wood is OUT for England. Eoin Morgan reveals that both he and Tom Curran are struggling with knocks and are thus unavailable.

Tymal Mills makes his first England appearance for more than three years, while Dawid Malan does line up in the middle order, which should be pretty flexible.

Team News - England

14:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle

ENGLAND WIN THE TOSS AND CHOOSE TO BOWL FIRST

14:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Time for the toss and the team news...

14:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A slight over-run in Abu Dhabi means the toss has been delayed only slightly in Dubai to appease the broadcasters, but the toss is imminent. Eoin Morgan and Kieron Pollard are out there with their respective elevens ready to be exchanged - have England kept faith with Dawid Malan? Will the West Indies pick Obed McCoy or Oshane Thomas? Let’s find out...

Australia beat South Africa

14:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle

But first, it’s all over in Abu Dhabi, and Australia have squeezed over the line! Nerveless cameos from Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade, out of position in the lower middle-order but experienced heads precisely for such a situation, saw them home with two balls to spare. That’s a crucial opening win for an Australian side who will be dangerous if they play to their potential.

Having favoured a batting heavy strategy but still impressed with the ball, Australia are off the mark - they are likely to be the biggest dangers to the West Indies and England who are the favourites to progress from this group.

England vs West Indies - What about Phil Simmons’ side?

14:29 , Harry Latham-Coyle

This could be the Last Dance for this team of West Indian world-beaters, with all but one of their globe-trotting superstars safely back in the fold and fully up to speed ahead of the tournament. The absence of Sunil Narine, a true pioneer of this format, is a real shame, not least for the drop-off in quality in the spinning ranks, but otherwise this is a fearsome line-up.

In Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell they are able to call upon perhaps three of the five best T20 players of all-time, awhile Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer represent the next generation of ferocious ball-strikers who could star at this tournament

They also have questions of how to balance their team, particularly after spinning all-rounder and outstanding fielder Fabian Allen was ruled out with injury - in fact, let’s find out how the two sides have balanced their elevens...

England vs West Indies - Is Malan the man?

14:26 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Another batter out of form is Dawid Malan, who may be the top-ranked T20 international men’s batter in the world but has faced a real battle to remain in a fearsome batting line-up. His slow-starting style, exacerbated on pitches that take turn like those in the UAE are anticipated to, is at odds with England’s favoured all guns blazing approach, and the lack of Stokes and S.Curran means Malan might be most vulnerable if England decide they need an extra seamer to balance their side.

If they do, David Willey and Chris Woakes are vying for a spot as a powerplay specialist who also lends batting depth, though England may instead opt to go batting heavy and rely on Liam Livingstone and Moeen Ali’s more part-time wiles. The latter’s off-spin could match up well against a West Indian top five likely to contain four left-handers.

England vs West Indies - England’s missing men

14:22 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Right, let’s talk about today’s encounter, and let’s first focus on Eoin Morgan’s England. Six months ago they would have rated as perhaps joint favourites for this competition but they have been wounded since by a number of high-profile absentees, Sam Curran latterly joining Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes on the list of absentees. The three would all have been likely starters to also lend vital balance to Morgan’s line-up, and with the trio not in the UAE the World Cup winning captain must reconsider his options.

His plans have also been complicated by a lack of relative form for some of his key men, not least himself. Morgan is enduring an annus horribilis with the bat, struggling in the recent IPL on these very same pitches and beginning to look a spent force. He has tended to suffer peaks and troughs in his career but rarely have the dips been so deep or long.

Didn’t this all start last week?

14:19 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Technically, yes. There was less fuss and fanfare at the tournament’s original onset but we’ve already had a highly intriguing seven days of preliminary action. Eight sides, split evenly into two groups, jostled to fill out the Super 12s, with the top two from each group progressing.

On largely difficult surfaces for batting, there was some thoroughly enjoyable cricket, with plenty of twists and turns. Scotland recovered from 53-6 to stun Bangladesh and help extend their stay in the Middle East, with Mahmudullah’s side eventually joining them in progressing from the Oman-based group after beating the hosts and Papua New Guinea.

However it was in the other group where more of the action lay, with unfavoured Namibia, powered by former South African international and Sussex star David Wiese, shocking more illustrious company iin the Netherlands and Ireland to progress alongside a dangerous Sri Lanka.

The Namibians join Scotland in Group 2 while Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are the two sides in Group 1 not in action today.

Affairs in Abu Dhabi

14:14 , Harry Latham-Coyle

We’ll have plenty more on England against the West Indies imminently with teams due over the wire in about 20 minutes time, but first to events in Abu Dhabi, where South Africa and Australia have kicked off Group 1 action.

It’s been mighty intriguing. Having asked the Proteas to bat, Aaron Finch’s strong bowling attack punctured the South Africans regularly with Temba Bavuma’s team only able to muster 118.

But that is proving a trickier total than it first appeared to track down on a bowler friendly surface, with spinners Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi putting a squeeze on. Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith appeared well-set to guide Australia home but have each been dismissed and with Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis at the crease, Australia need 25 from the final three.

We’ll update you on how that finishes up in a moment.

What better way to begin?

14:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Now England vs the West Indies may not be the first match of the fully-fledged group stages (more on that shortly) but it is rightly the centrepiece of an outstanding opening day. The finalists from five years ago meet again as the holders of the two major international white-ball trophies, two sides who have so evolved their game and would rank right among the finest in this format’s reasonably short history.

The Dubai International Cricket Stadium is our venue this afternoon as some of T20’s biggest stars get ready to glitter under the glare of the Emirati lights.

What better way to begin?

14:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Now England vs the West Indies may not be the first match of the fully-fledged group stages (more on that shortly) but it is rightly the centrepiece of an outstanding opening day. The finalists from five years ago meet again as the holders of the two major international white-ball trophies, two sides who have so evolved their game and would rank right among the finest in this format’s reasonably short history.

The Dubai International Cricket Stadium is our venue this afternoon as some of T20’s biggest stars get ready to glitter under the glare of the Emirati lights.

Five and a half years later...

14:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It’s here. There are few times you can accuse the powers that be of making us wait for high-class cricket, such is the nature of a crammed calendar, but this men’s T20 World Cup has taken its time to arrive. It is five and a half long years since Ian Bishop’s immortal commentary heralded Carlos Braithwaite’s hoist to seal twin triumphs for the West Indies in India but finally, finally, the tournament proper has arrived.

And how it is overdue. The last five years has seen Twenty20 cricket boom exponentially, entirely new leagues on sometime unfamiliar shores starting, fizzing, and failing. The sport’s strategy has evolved, entire gambits having been both uncovered and figured out since Braithwaite’s towering blows: pinch-sloggers; darty part-timers in the powerplay.

We’ve had two shifts of venue and a year’s delay, a change of name and new nations making their mark. After a thrilling final set of qualifiers, the group stages in the United Arab Emirates have belatedly begun.

T20 World Cup: England vs West Indies

14:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle

We’re around an hour away from the match getting underway and it promises to be an exciting one - here are the latest odds:

England 4/6

W Indies 16/11

England begin T20 World Cup campaign against West Indies

10:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage as England begin their T20 World Cup campaign against reigning champions West Indies.

It promises to be a thrilling match and England will be desperate to wreak revenge after falling short in a dramatic 2016 final when Carlos Braithwaite hit four successive sixes to complete a nail-biting chase.