England v West Indies, 1st ODI at Headingley - Preview

Headingley: Wisden Trophy with impressive efficiency in their final five-day action before the Ashes. However, before thoughts can seriously turn to Australia, there is a busy period of limited-overs action, beginning with this three-match series against West Indies.

Ravi Bopara has solved England's Test No. 3 position for the foreseeable future and now he needs to cement his position at the top of the one-day order. He was promoted to open in India and retained the role in West Indies with a modicum of success, but England are still searching for the ideal combination.

How West Indies could have done with Dwayne Bravo during the Test series, but he was controversially omitted after medical advice said his ankle hadn't recovered sufficiently. He has spent the last six weeks batting, bowling and diving around at the IPL and his return brings so much to the tourists' side.

Alastair Cook and Graham Onions are the two players who drop out from the Test side and their places are likely to be taken by Owais Shah and Dimitri Mascarenhas.

Pitch and weather
The ground still resembles a building site with two cranes in position behind the stands, but the pitch and relayed outfield look in good condition. The forecast is for showers and it hasn't warmed up much yet for the West Indians.

Stats and Trivia

• England and West Indies have met each other four times in one-day internationals at Headingley, with England leading the head-to-head 3-1. West Indies' only victory came in 1988 when Gordon Greenidge made 78 and Malcolm Marshall took 3 for 28.
• The last meeting on this ground was in 2004 when England came out on top by seven wickets with Steve Harmison claiming the Man-of-the-Match award for his 3 for 31.

Match facts
Thursday May 21
Start time 10.45am local (9.45 GMT) 

Highlights of the match