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Harry Brook Era Starts with Record-Breaking Win as England Crush West Indies
Jacob Bethell’s explosive debut and a dominant bowling display help England dismantle West Indies by 238 runs in ODI opener
England’s white-ball resurgence may have just found its new leader. In what can only be described as a dream debut for captain Harry Brook, the English side obliterated West Indies by 238 runs in the first One Day International (ODI) at Edgbaston, sending a powerful message of intent.
The newly appointed skipper led a fierce batting assault as England posted 400-8, their highest ODI score in three years and sixth overall 400+ total in the format. The highlight of the innings, however, came not from the experienced heads but from 20-year-old Jacob Bethell, who returned from the IPL to blaze 82 off just 53 balls in front of his home crowd in Birmingham.
With contributions flowing throughout the top order—Ben Duckett (60), Joe Root (57), Brook (58)—England became the first ODI team to see each of its first seven batters score at least 35 runs. While no player reached a century, the explosive consistency was more than enough to bury the West Indies’ hopes of a record chase.
The Caribbean side, who opted to bowl first expecting to benefit from humid conditions, were soon overwhelmed. England raced to 90 runs inside the first 10 overs, thanks to Duckett and debut opener Jamie Smith, who was dropped early but punished the West Indies with aggression.
West Indies’ only redeeming moments came through spectacular fielding, with Roston Chase, Brandon King, and Keacy Carty pulling off sensational catches that prevented a potentially larger total. But the brilliance ended there.
In reply, the Windies never looked comfortable. Saqib Mahmood tormented the top order, claiming 3 wickets for 32 runs, while Jamie Overton cleaned up the tail with 3 for 22. The highlight of the bowling effort was Brydon Carse’s stunning catch at the boundary, which dismissed captain Shai Hope and symbolically ended any resistance.
The visitors crumbled for just 162 in 26.2 overs, handing England a massive win and ending their seven-match losing streak in ODIs. The victory not only gives England a 1-0 lead in the three-match series but also signals a new dawn in their white-ball campaign after a disappointing 18-month stretch.
With the next clash set for Cardiff on Sunday, England will be eyeing their first bilateral ODI series win since September 2023. If this opening display was any indicator, Harry Brook’s captaincy era could not have started better.