England’s Ben Stokes takes guard in hostile West Indies territory | Vic Marks


The all-rounder was smashed to all parts by Carlos Brathwaite in the World Twenty20 final and the Caribbean fans are unlikely to let him forget it in a hurry

The first of three one-day internationals between West Indies and England takes place in Antigua on Friday. For one of the teams the Champions Trophy, which is being held in Birmingham, Cardiff and London in June, looms large. This is a good time for preparation.

England have hosted the Champions Trophy twice in the past 13 years – in 2004 and 2013 they were runners-up at the Oval and Edgbaston, respectively, after they had seemed well-placed to win both games – and somehow they are the hosts again in 2017.

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