West Indies and England are licking wounds ahead of the Test series. Cricket News – Times of India

answer sound (Antigua and Barbuda): West Indies And England Begin the rebuilding process from the wreckage of disastrous campaigns when their three-match Test series begins on Tuesday Sir Vivian Richards Stadium In Antigua,
A 4-0 loss to the visitors in the latest Ashes event and a record nine losses in the last calendar year have pushed England into a drastic change.
The Caribbean side are facing yet another Test slump in which a 2-0 series upset in Sri Lanka in late 2021 left them with a record five losses in their last six matches.
Desperate to wean themselves off the soul-destroying experience, the English team that takes the field in Antigua is set to show at least six changes, including debutant opener Alex Lees, who finished his final in Hobart eight weeks ago. It was dedication.
Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, the famous swing and seam bowling tandem, who are the country’s highest wicket-takers in Tests, were sensationally removed from the touring party.

His absence is now compounded by the loss of rising fast bowler Ollie Robinson, who was sidelined by a back injury in last week’s practice four-day match.
However, despite West Indies’ seemingly perennial struggles at home in the traditional format of the game, history is not in England’s favor.
In 54 years of Gary Sobers’ famous double-declaration proving a series-winning victory for Colin Cowdrey’s spectators in 1968, England have only one other series win to show for ten subsequent Caribbean campaigns – 3–0. Success came in 2004 when Michael Vaughan was at the helm.
“I guess we just need to play Cricket We know we can give ourselves a fighting chance,” West Indies head coach Phil Simmons said.

“We know there is a real challenge with batting and we have been working hard over the past few days to rectify that problem and give the bowlers something to work on.”
Simmons identified the pairing between rival all-rounders Jason Holder and Ben Stokes as well as the batting contributions of rival captains Craig Brathwaite and Joe Root as potential deciding factors in the three matches.
Root’s pre-match assessment was, “Winning from here (the series) will be a big achievement. I think this is a chance for all of us to prove our point.”
He also dismissed suggestions that Anderson and Broad’s omissions pointed to England and used the series to develop young talent.
“You don’t come into a Test series that doesn’t want to win,” Root insisted. “We are very committed to winning this series.”

With the Wisden Trophy retired following England’s return to a similar three-match competition at the height of the challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic in the English summer of 2020, teams are now vying for the Richards-Botham Trophy, named Vivian Richards and Respect to Ian Botham.
The great friend and former teammate at Somerset on the English county circuit for 12 years from 1974 to 1986, both were present at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium for the unveiling of the new award on Sunday.
It was an early gift for the Antigua national hero who celebrated his 70th birthday on the eve of the first Test.
Probable playing XI
West Indies: Craig Brathwaite (c), John Campbell, Nkrumah Bonner, Shamrah Brooks, Kyle Meyers, Jermaine Blackwood, Jason Holder, Joshua da Silva (wk), Kemar Roach, Jaden Seals, Veerasamy Permoul
England: Joe Root (c), Jack Crowley, Alex Lees, Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Fox (wk), Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Mark Wood, Jack Leach