Harry Brook underlined England’s bid to recover with an important 71 but captain Jos Buttler’s poor form continued in the first ODI against the West Indies in Antigua.
A sobering World Cup campaign ushered in a new era for England, although it was the contributions of individuals in India that had the biggest impact in the first of three ODIs.
Three weeks after their last game on the subcontinent, Brook top-scored in England’s 325 all-out, with all batters except Buttler and number 11 Gus Atkinson reaching double figures.
Buttler had a strong performance at the World Cup, averaging 15.33 without reaching 50 once, and never got going in Antigua before being sent off for three off 13 balls after hitting a reverse sweep had made the only slip-up.
Sam Curran and Brydon Carse scored 66 in 38 balls to take England past 300 after slumping to 239 for seven against a new-look Windies side that failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Phil Salt gave England a turbo-charged start with a boundary-pushing 45 in 28 balls after winning the toss under sunny skies as the tourists posted their highest ODI total at the ground, helped by occasional poor fielding from their opponents.
Salt wasted no time in calming down, hitting five fours and three meaty leg-side sixes off fast bowlers Alzarri Joseph and Romario Shepherd, forcing Windies captain Shai Hope to turn and spin after six overs.
The change worked as Salt ended an electric innings in tame fashion. He has struggled with left-arm spin in the past and was caught by Gudakesh Motie after he backed to leg and pulled up to cover.
Will Jacks had been in the slipstream of Salt in a 77-run stand, but still sent a 96-yard six over cover, aided slightly by a breeze blowing across the ground, before finishing off as England’s openers flew off in quick succession.
Conditions appeared to be getting tougher and the ball remained low at times as Test openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett tried to build on England’s fast start.
Duckett’s usual swings, both orthodox and reverse, came to the fore but his leg stump was held back by one that slipped on from leg-spinner Yannic Cariah, who should have had Crawley on 30 but a top edge throw made a soft one Looping Long-on was buried by Motie, possibly unnoticed by the sunshine.
Crawley was thrown out for 48 after going for a single, only to see Brook not budge, allowing Hope to fend off balls from point after Alick Athanaze’s throw.
Brook remained calm at first, nudging and working 12 singles from his first 18 balls before sweeping Motie backwards off his first four balls. His second boundary was the result of further misses from the Windies as Keacy Carty became tangled and the ball sailed under his legs.
He kept England on their toes and then picked up the pace after Buttler’s departure, hitting Shepherd and then Cariah for six. Cariah was also caught over the distance twice by Livingstone in an over of 23, but the England all-rounder failed on 17 and was caught left leg by a Shepherd grubber.
Brook was bowled out in the 70th but added one more run before being deceived by Shepherd’s pace-off delivery and batting to middle.
At 239 for seven, England’s lower order had their work cut out for them but Sam Curran, who played a supporting role at the World Cup, and Carse, an unused squad member, helped the tourists to a brilliant finish.
Both lower-order batsmen managed to get over the rope twice to take England past 300 before Curran was bowled out for 38. Carse was undefeated at 31.
