Forget all that red-ball nonsense. It’s time to put on the coloured clothes, smack the ball out of the park, and get affairs in order for this summer’s cricket bonanza.

What a journey it’s been for England’s white-ball side over the last four years. From the nadir of the 2015 World Cup to record-breaking feats that have made the mind boggle. Just one stop awaits now before squads for the World Cup are announced in April: five ODIs against West Indies.

For West Indies, the key headline-grabber is the return of Chris Gayle, as the old-timer looks to finish his ODI career with a World Cup swansong. Nevertheless, it’s the younger faces that England’s bowlers should keep an eye on over the series.

Shimron Hetmyer’s exuberance was unadulterated fun during the Test series, and his ODI record in 2018 was excellent: his tally of 727 runs came at an average of 40.38 and featured three centuries.

Another man capable of delivering a show is Shai Hope, a cricketer whose potential remains unfulfilled at Test level. A first-innings 57 at Bridgetown, punctuated by some flushing straight drives, was followed by a lean return of 62 runs from four innings across the rest of the Test series against England.

Nevertheless, he is an ODI maestro on the rise. Against Bangladesh last December, he reeled off two consecutive unbeaten centuries, the first a staggering knock of 146 not out in a chase of 256. The swagger and bravado of the batsman is evident; West Indies will be hoping he brings some runs to go with it. A possible battle with Wood will be intriguing – Hope was dismissed by Wood in both innings in St Lucia, the extra pace a disturbing surprise for the 25-year old.

England may stand eight places above West Indies in the ODI rankings, but as the Test leg showed, reputations count for nothing amidst battle in the Caribbean. Another riveting series awaits.