England and West Indies begin their campaign for the Wisden Trophy with a historic Test at Edgbaston; the first day-night Test ever played in England.
It’s also the first Test England will have played with the pink ball anywhere, ahead of two more this winter against Australia and New Zealand.
Joe Root’s side will be bidding to build on a fine 3-1 victory over South Africa, while West Indies know they face a tough task to stay competitive.
Our guide contains team news, start times, TV channel information, stats and latest news from both camps, while Dave Tickner and Sir Ian Botham will provide their best bets before the off.
England v West Indies: First Test contents
1. Match details
2. Team news
3. Betting tips
4. Key stats
5. Quotes
6. Latest news
7. Series fixtures & results
England v West Indies: First Test key details
Dates: Thursday August 17 – Monday August 21
Session times: 1400-1600, 1640-1840, 1900-2100 BST
TV Channel: Sky Sports Cricket (404)
Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
Sky Bet odds: England 1/5, Draw 11/2, West Indies 14/1
England v West Indies: First Test team news
Surrey batsman Mark Stoneman will become Alastair Cook's 12th opening partner since Andrew Strauss retired five years ago after replacing former Durham team-mate Keaton Jennings in the squad.
That's the only change to the England team, meaning Tom Westley and Dawid Malan have been retained after making their debuts in the 3-1 series victory over South Africa. Hampshire leg-spinner Mason Crane and fit-again all-rounder Chris Woakes miss out from the 13-man squad.
England team: Joe Root (Yorkshire, captain), Alastair Cook (Essex), Mark Stoneman (Surrey), Tom Westley (Essex), Dawid Malan (Middlesex), Ben Stokes (Durham), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire, wk), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Toby Roland-Jones (Middlesex), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), James Anderson (Lancashire)
Also in squad: Mason Crane (Hampshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
West Indies Test squad: Jason Holder (capt), Kraigg Braithwaite (vice-capt), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich (wk), Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Kyle Hope, Shai Hope (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Kieran Powell, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach
England v West Indies: First Test betting tips
"I can’t resist a bit of loose change on a West Indies win. I can’t pretend there’s a strong statistical basis for supporting West Indies. But let’s look at instead as opposing England. They are a good team – a better one than West Indies for sure – but remain more than capable of throwing in a truly dreadful performance.
And when they do, they lose. Test draws in England are now almost extinct, and a side that has lost by 340 runs, 10 wickets, 75 runs and an innings and 46 runs within their last 12 home Tests have to be vulnerable to a big-price upset in a match that could hinge on who is batting when conditions lurch in favour of the bowlers."
Click here for Dave Tickner's full preview
Sir Ian Botham's tips
England v West Indies: First Test key stats
EDGBASTON
Overall: 49 Tests: 26 home wins, 8 away wins, 15 draws
Last 10 Tests: 7 home wins, 1 away win, 2 draws
Last Test: August 3-7, 2016: England (297 & 445-6d) beat Pakistan (400 & 201) by 141 runs
England v West Indies: 9 Tests: 2 home wins, 4 away win, 3 draws
Last England v West Indies Test: June 7-11, 2012: West Indies (426) drew with England (221-5)
ENGLAND
Last 10 Tests (most recent first): WWLWLLLLDL
Last 10 home Tests (most recent first): WWLWLWWLDW
Last 10 Tests - top batsmen
Joe Root 1045 runs @ 50.45 2x100 8x50
Alastair Cook 710 runs @ 35.50 1x100 4x50
Jonny Bairstow 709 runs @ 39.38 6x50
Ben Stokes 669 runs @ 35.21 2x100 3x50
Moeen Ali 643 runs @ 35.72 2x100 3x50
Last 10 Tests - top bowlers
Moeen Ali 41 wkts @ 28.21 3x5w 1x10w
Adil Rashid 27 wkts @ 35.44
James Anderson 24 wkts @ 20.66 1x5w
Ben Stokes 20 wkts @ 36.15 1x5w
Stuart Broad 19 wkts @ 31.57
WEST INDIES
Last 10 Tests (most recent first): LWLWLLDLDL
Last 10 away Tests (most recent first): WLLDLLLLLD
Last 10 Tests - top batsmen
Roston Chase 728 runs @ 48.53 3x100 3x50
Kraigg Brathwaite 629 runs @ 39.31 1x100 4x50
Jason Holder 437 runs @ 36.41 3x50
Shane Dowrich 416 runs @29.71 4x50
Darren Bravo 412 runs @ 31.69 1x100 2x50
Last 10 Tests - top bowlers
Devendra Bishoo 31 wkts @ 35.87 1x5w 1x10w
Shannon Gabriel 20 wkts @ 28.96 2x5w
Jason Holder 20 wkts @ 33.10 1x5w
Roston Chase 17 wkts @ 52.23 1x5w
Alzarri Joseph 15 wkts @ 31.60
England v West Indies: First Test key quotes
ENGLAND
Skipper Joe Root on the day-night challenge: "I am expecting it to be tough, as Test cricket always is.
"Obviously there are different challenges, and it might throw up a different rhythm to the game.
"But I do think it is important not to look too far and have too many theories going into it, and that we react to what is thrown in front of us and make sure that if things do start to happen that are different from normal we respond to that quickly and win those sessions.
"It looks like there are going to be some fantastic crowds so I hope it is a huge success and can widen the audience for Test cricket."
On being huge favourites to win the series: "I've never played an easy game of Test cricket, and I expect this to be a real big challenge for us.
"We're very confident, but we don't 'expect' anything. I think you've got to earn the right in Test cricket, and that doesn't change whoever you play against.
"If we keep that mentality we had throughout the back-end of that South Africa series, we'll give ourselves a really good chance of coming out on top.
"We have to make sure that at no time we lower our standards and we maintain the intensity we had over those last two Tests in particular."
Chris Woakes on his return to the England fold after injury: "When you're injured there's always someone knocking on the door ready to take your place.
"When you get injured that's frustrating for you and you have to prove yourself again. I hope I have done enough to show that I'm ready, and fingers crossed I do play."
Woakes on Mark Stoneman's call-up to the side: "It is the last Test series before the Ashes, and I hope he can come in score some runs for himself and for the team.
"I have played a lot against Mark and I have always found him difficult to bowl to. You have to bowl in some peculiar areas against him.
"He hits the bad ball for four - which is always frustrating for a bowler - and he's in good form."
Stuart Broad on the pink ball: "It's stepping into the unknown completely.
"I've bowled one ball with the pink ball - I got it relatively straight!
"I just don't know what to expect. We are just going to have to be so adaptable on the day and figure out what's going on.
"It's an exciting concept. I watched the day-night match in Adelaide and enjoyed it. The exciting thing as a player is we are going in with a clear mind and learning on the job almost.
"The team which will come out successful this week will be the team which reacts quicker."
Broad on the threat posed by West Indies: "We've got a huge amount of respect for the way the West Indies play and the competitive spirit they bring.
"With a slightly inexperienced team you know they are going to be hungry for success, they are going to be determined to prove themselves and that is something we need to be aware of.
"Every ball in this series is going to be competitive and we have to be switched on to that."
WEST INDIES
Coach Stuart Law on the criticism faced by Jason Holder and his team: "He takes it with a pinch of salt, the things said about him and this team and uses it to drive him and them forward.
"He's got experience. He's done it at this level, and I'm looking forward to how he performs.
"It is a lot of responsibility, and he does it with fantastic integrity.
"He's a young man, but very intelligent and high quality.
"He's doing everything to make sure he captains this side not just this series but for 10 or 15 years."
Law on exploiting weaknesses in England's line-up: "You always look at any little crack you can find.
"With a couple of new guys to the fore in Test cricket, that's an opportunity for our bowlers.
"We've some pretty experienced, pretty good bowlers up front as well. So it's an opportunity for us to exploit those weaknesses."
West Indies skipper Jason Holder on being underdogs: " We're obviously huge underdogs. (But) in our last series against Pakistan, I felt there was significant improvement.
"We've got guys who are showing signs of progress and signs they can compete here at Test level.
"Our bowling has really carried us throughout the last few Test matches. It's just for our batsmen to make some runs.
"We've struggled in the past, primarily with our batting, but so far on this tour we've been doing really well. So I expect good things from the batters (as well)."
England v West Indies: First Test latest news
Root ready for day-night challenge
Joe Root is determined England will not be spooked by the pink ball in this country's first day-night Test match.
Holder: Underdogs to show fight
Skipper Jason Holder hopes underdogs West Indies can upet England in Test series
Stoneman gets thumbs-up
Mark Stoneman comes highly recommended by Chris Woakes ahead of the Surrey opener's England debut.
Broad targets wicket milestone
Stuart Broad has a meaty milestone in his sights as England prepare to face the West Indies.
Broad: A step into the unknown
Stuart Broad and England take a step into the unknown with the first day-night Test to be held in the country.
England name day-night Test squad
Mark Stoneman and Mason Crane have been named in England's 13-man squad for the day-night Test against West Indies at Edgbaston.
Click here for more England v West Indies news on our cricket index
England v South Africa: Test series fixtures & results
August 17-21: First Test, Edgbaston (D/N)
August 25-29: Second Test, Headingley
September 7-11: Third Test, Lord’s
