West Indies vs Ireland, 1st ODI, Bridgetown: Preview, prediction, likely XIs

It’ll be a new beginning for Ireland when they take on West Indies in the first of three ODIs and six limited-overs matches in all at Bridgetown on Tuesday, 7 January.

Ireland will be captained for the first time by Andy Balbirnie after William Porterfield stepped down from the role following Ireland’s T20 World Cup Qualifier campaign in October-November. Balbirnie has been with the side a long time now, but this will be the first instance when he captains the side, and there is a palpable sense of excitement in the Irish cricketing circles.

“I’ve got family out here who are obviously very proud of me captaining the side, but when it comes down to it, it’s all about the team and the performance we put in on the field,” Balbirnie recently said. “That’s my focus, and I know that is the clear focus of the squad.”

West Indies themselves are in the nascent stages of a new era of their own. Kieron Pollard took over as their limited-overs captain recently, and despite their loss against India in both ODI and T20I series, there has been visible signs of progress in the side.

The hope, as far as the home side is concerned, is that that will translate into results at home against a side that will pose less problems than India. There is excitement in the air for both sides, and it should make for a cracking series.

Head to head

This is a rivalry that has been lorded by West Indies. The sides have met nine times in ODIs. Ireland have won just once. West Indies have won seven of their bouts, with one ending in a no-result. The story is similar in T20Is, with Ireland winning just one of four matches against West Indies.

Key players

Shai Hope (West Indies): Hope impressed against India last month, and has a history of doing well against Ireland: He scored 170 in an innings when the teams clashed in May in the tri-nation series in Dublin. Ireland will be particularly wary of him this time.

Andy Balbirnie (Ireland): All eyes will be on Balbirnie. He has been a fine player for Ireland over the years, but captaincy and the pressures that come with it can change things, even for the best of players. How will Balbirnie cope? It’ll make for an interesting viewing.

Likely XIs

West Indies: Evin Lewis,Shai Hope (wk), Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard (c), Roston Chase, Keemo Paul, Hayden Walsh/Khary Pierre, Alzarri Joseph, Sheldon Cottrell

Ireland: Paul Stirling, Gareth Delany, Andrew Balbirnie (c), William Porterfield, Kevin O’Brien, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Simi Singh, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Andy McBrine, Boyd Rankin

Prediction

West Indies to win, and quite easily at that.