Woakes Proves all round value as Windes 'reserve' refuse to fold

Chris Stocks analyses the first two ODIs and identifies the areas in which England excelled or struggled as the Champions Trophy looms.

- Chris Stocks

In the two years since the last World Cup, England have made a name for themselves as the great entertainers of international one-day cricket.

However, their victories on a slow, nay turgid, Antigua pitch showed they are also capable of winning ugly.

Both matches were a lot closer than anybody in the touring party would have liked, the first last Friday won by the margin of 45 runs and the second two days later by four wickets.

This West Indies side may be shorn of most of their big-name players because of reasons far away from the cricket field. Yet this largely second-choice group of players belied their status as stand-ins to give England a few uncomfortable moments.

None was trickier than in last Sunday’s second ODI when Eoin Morgan’s side collapsed against spin to find themselves 124-6 in pursuit of 226 to win. But a spirited 102-run stand between Joe Root and Chris Woakes got their team out of jail. It was a partnership that underlined not only Root’s class but also the value of having a No.8 batsman in Woakes who has now posted two half-centuries in this format in the past nine months.

Woakes struck an unbeaten 95 to help England to what had appeared an unlikely tie against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge last June. This innings of 68, also unbeaten, was perhaps even more impressive.

Root, meanwhile, has had a lot to deal with this year having become a father for the first time and then being appointed Alastair Cook’s successor as Test captain last month.