The captains head out to the middle, up goes the coin - and it goes the West Indies way.

Jason Holder decides his side will have a bowl first up.

Curtly Ambrose
Former West Indies fast bowler, on TMS

Let's be honest. It's difficult for any player to turn down a million dollars. But the biggest issue in the West Indies is that they are getting a pittance to play regional cricket. It's a no-brainer really.

Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard - three names that won't be appearing for the hosts today after they instead chose to play in the Pakistan Super League T20 tournament. 

An under-strength side will be an issue for the Windies as they look to overturn a pretty poor run of form.

The home side have won just one of their last eight ODIs and they've lost three of their last four home games.

We'll give you the full team news as soon as we have it. 

Image source, Getty Images

Curtly Ambrose
Former West Indies fast bowler, on TMS

There are so many talented players in the West Indies but we can't arrest the slide. Hopefully we can begin to do that now.

Here's your 10-minute warning before the toss - enough time to go and stick a brew on.

So as we wait for play to start in Antigua - this might make you chuckle. 

Hollywood star and cricket fan Hugh Jackman was on Greg James' BBC Radio One show yesterday - here is a recorded message from Graeme Swann (alongside sidekick Michael Vaughan) which was played out to the Australian. 

Is it too early to start thinking of the Ashes?

Test Match Special have just gone live from Antigua on BBC 5 live sports extra.

You can listen to our team of Charles Dagnall, Fazeer Mohammed, Simon Hughes, Ebony Rainford-Brent and Sir Curtly Ambrose by using the player at the top of the page, or clicking here.

It's hard not to feel envious as I sit in Salford, watching the rain fall, at the view the TMS guys have had on their Caribbean trip so far...

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Having said that, there's still a few showers around the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium - but I'm reliably informed they clear quickly.

The rain has caused a mini-problem for the Antigua groundsmen.

This year, Ben Stokes has been made vice-captain of the England Test team and become the IPL's most expensive foreign player after a bidding war.

Stokes was sold for a cool £1.7m which has instantly led to his England team-mates taking the mick out of him.

"I found it tough to talk about (the sale) but the group that we have, it's funny to be around them because it's just taking the mickey out of everyone," Stokes said. 

"Everyone gets brought back down to earth. It's just the way we operate, which is why it's such a good environment to be in at the moment."

Another shower at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium has delayed the toss, although there's a hint of blue sky over yonder...

Image source, Test Match Special

England have won nine of their past 10 completed ODIs against West Indies and a Joe Root inspired-side secured a 25-run win when the two sides last met at Antigua, back in 2014.

The Windies have lost four of their last five ODI meetings with England on home turf; including the last two encounters.

The home side are ranked ninth in the world in 50-over cricket, a standing that denied them a place in this year's Champions Trophy, and will  field an inexperienced side  after changes to national selection.

Players can only appear for the international side in limited-overs cricket if they have played the relevant format domestically in the Caribbean since 2010.

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It's fair to say Ben Stokes has an interesting relationship with the West Indies.

From his tiffs with Marlon Samuels - starting in the Test tour in 2015 and again during the World T20 final - to being smashed for four sixes in the last over of the final as the Windies romped to victory, it's been a rocky road.

It was also in the Caribbean - Barbados, to be exact - where Stokes punched a locker in frustration, which led to a hand injury that ruled him out of the 2014 World Twenty20.

Here's a run down of Stokes' history with the West Indies.

The good news: cricket's back.

The bad news: it's a bit grim out in Antigua.

Ey up, welcome to today's live text commentary of the first ODI between England and West Indies in Antigua.

It's the first international outing for Ben Stokes since he became a million dollar IPL man.

We'll bring you all the action, along with commentary from Test Match Special, which kicks off at 13:15 GMT.