TRES: KIDS ARE ALRIGHT

Coach backs white-ball youth policy despite wretched run

- DAVID CHARLESWORTH

MARCUS TRESCOTHICK has faith in England's blueprint for giving youth a chance - despite a 12th defeat in 18 ODIs.

In the absence of the injured Jos Buttler and several Test stars, England have turned to their fringe players in the Caribbean.

But a slipshod batting display underpinned a series-opening loss in Antigua.

Each of the top six got to double figures, but no one reached fifty in England's under-par total of 209.

The West Indies reached a rainadjusted target of 157 in 35 overs with eight wickets to spare.

The must-win second ODI is today. But England's interim whiteball head coach Trescothick, who fielded four debutants in Jordan Cox, Dan Mousley, Jamie Overton and John Turner on Thursday, trusts they are on the right path.