England collapsed to a 381-run defeat to the West Indies in the opening Test– suffering their joint seventh-heaviest loss in Test cricket.
England must win the next two Tests if they are going to win the series and drastic changes are required.
Our cricket betting expert brings you the best bets to look out for ahead of the second Test.
Root to deliver under pressure
With the Ashes looming at the back end of 2019, reservations have been made as to whether Joe Root is the right man to take this England team forward.
Having scored just 26 over both innings, Root was the lowest scorer in England’s top order and a similar performance could put pressure on his reign as England’s captain.
Whether he’s captain or not, Root remains one of, if not our best player and I think he’ll step up in this Test. Root scored a magnificent 182 not out in the second Test the last time England toured the West Indies and I think he’ll put in a real captain’s performance this week.
I expect him to lead from example this time round and I’ll be backing him to be the man of the match at 8/1
Roach to rattle tourists
Kemar Roach caused the England side all sorts of problems in the first innings after his sensational five for 17 in 11 overs.
The right-arm fast bowler loves the conditions in Antigua and his spell of five wickets in 12 deliveries against Bangladesh last year was arguably the best bowling spell ever witnessed at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Roach is the spearhead in this West Indies bowling attack and he’s good value at 6/1 to be the second Test’s top bowler.
Opening batsmen still an issue for England
When Andrew Strauss bowed out in 2012, no one could possibly imagine how tricky it could be to slot into the side as opening batsmen.
Since then, Alastair Cook opened the batting with 12 different partners in six years and now following his retirement last summer, England’s top order now appears completely unsettled.
Rory Burns got bowled cheaply for two in the last Test but followed it up with a promising score of 84 in the second innings while Keaton Jennings failed to deliver with neither score above 20 in either innings.
Carlos Brathwaite and John Campbell appear much more comfortable opening the batting and I expect the West Indies to have a higher opening partnership in the first innings which can be backed at Evens
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