Honestly, if you're looking for a rivalry that still feels like a street fight in whites, you’ve gotta look at Cricket West Indies vs England. Forget the Ashes for a second. While Australia and England are busy with their polite tradition and tiny urns, the Windies and the English have been trading blows that feel a lot more personal lately.
Think about it. We just saw England absolutely dismantle the West Indies in 2024 and 2025 across pretty much every format. But here’s the kicker: the stats don't tell you how close the Caribbean side was to making England look silly on more than one occasion.
The 2025 White-Ball Washout: Was It Really That One-Sided?
Looking back at the May and June 2025 tour in England, the scoreboards say 3-0 in ODIs and 3-0 in T20Is for the hosts. On paper? A disaster for the Men in Maroon. In reality? It was a series of "what ifs."
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Remember that 2nd ODI at Sophia Gardens? Keacy Carty played an absolute gem, scoring 103 and dragging the West Indies to 308. Most teams would fold. But Joe Root, being Joe Root, steered England home with a massive 166 not out. That’s the thing about this match-up—England has these individual anchors like Root, while the West Indies often rely on explosive, high-risk bursts.
Then there’s the T20I leg. England’s new skipper, Harry Brook, had his first real test leading the side. He didn't just win; he presided over some of the most ridiculous hitting we've seen in a while. In the third T20I, England smashed 248 runs. 248! Ben Duckett was playing a different sport that day.
- 1st ODI: England won by 238 runs (Bethell smashed 82 on debut).
- 2nd ODI: England won by 3 wickets (Root's masterclass).
- 3rd ODI: England won by 7 wickets (DLS method).
It feels like the West Indies are always one world-class death bowler away from flipping these results. Alzarri Joseph has been carrying a massive load, and while he picked up 7 wickets in the ODIs, he can't bowl from both ends.
Why the T20 World Cup 2026 Changes Everything
We are currently sitting in January 2026, and the buzz for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is already deafening. Guess who’s in the same group? Yep. Group C is looking like a nightmare with England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Italy.
The big date is February 11, 2026. Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai.
If you know anything about Mumbai, you know the ball flies. This is basically a home game for the Windies' power hitters like Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford. England is currently dealing with some massive headaches, too. Reports just hit that Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed are facing visa delays for the pre-tournament camp in Sri Lanka. Losing your primary spinners before a World Cup in the subcontinent is... well, it’s not great.
The "Bazball" Scrutiny and the Richards-Botham Trophy
Let's talk Tests. The Cricket West Indies vs England rivalry for the Richards-Botham Trophy has become the ultimate "vibe check" for England's aggressive style. In the July 2024 series, England swept it 3-0, but it marked the end of an era. James Anderson retired after the first Test at Lord’s, leaving a hole that Gus Atkinson has been trying to fill (and doing a decent job, honestly, with that 12-wicket debut).
But the West Indies have this weird habit of winning at home. Remember 2022? They hammered England in Grenada to take the series 1-0. Kraigg Brathwaite basically bored the English bowlers to death by batting for about three days straight. That’s the clash of styles that makes this great. England wants to finish the game by tea on Day 3. Brathwaite wants to still be there on Day 5, eating up deliveries like they're snacks.
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Current Head-to-Head Realities (As of Jan 2026)
| Format | Total Played | England Wins | West Indies Wins | Draws/NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 166 | 54 | 59 | 53 |
| ODI | 111 | 57 | 48 | 6 |
| T20I | 38 | 19 | 18 | 1 |
The West Indies still hold the lead in Test cricket. That matters. It’s a point of immense pride in the Caribbean, even when the white-ball team is struggling.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that the West Indies are "dead" in the longer format. People see the 3-0 loss in England last year and write them off. What they miss is that Kavem Hodge scored a brilliant century at Trent Bridge, and Jayden Seales is arguably one of the best young fast bowlers on the planet right now.
On the flip side, England is often accused of being arrogant with their "Bazball" approach. During the 2025 white-ball tour, there were moments where they looked like they were trying to hit every ball for six, even when the situation didn't call for it. It worked because the talent gap in the middle order was wide, but against a disciplined side in the upcoming World Cup? It might bite them.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're following the upcoming matches or looking to understand where these teams are headed, keep an eye on these specific pivots:
- The Spin Crisis: With Adil Rashid getting older and the visa issues for Rehan Ahmed, England's middle-overs control is shaky. Watch for Liam Dawson to potentially play a massive role if he stays in the T20 squad.
- The Captaincy Factor: Harry Brook is a natural leader, but he’s aggressive. Shai Hope (ODI) and Rovman Powell (T20) have more experience in grinding out tough wins. In the 2026 World Cup, the tactical battle between Brook and Powell at Wankhede will be the game-changer.
- The Seales vs. Wood Velocity: We’re seeing a straight-up arms race. Mark Wood is still hitting 90+ mph, but Jayden Seales is finding more movement. In the 2026 Test series later this year, the pitch conditions in the Caribbean (especially the bouncy tracks in Barbados) will favor Seales.
The narrative that England has "figured out" the West Indies is a bit of a stretch. Yes, the recent results favor the Barmy Army, but the gap in T20 cricket is practically non-existent. When February 11th rolls around in Mumbai, don't be surprised if the underdogs from the Caribbean remind everyone why they are two-time world champions.
Next Steps for Fans: Keep a close eye on the fitness of Alzarri Joseph. He was sidelined briefly at the end of 2025, and his presence is the difference between a West Indies win and a middle-order collapse. Also, check the final squad lists for the T20 World Cup on January 31st; that’s when we’ll know if England’s spin duo actually gets their visas sorted.