WI arrive in England for three-Test tour

WEST Indies (WI) arrived in England on Tuesday for a historic three-Test cricket tour which bowls off on July 8.

The 39-member touring party, inclusive of 14 squad players and 11 reserves, all tested negative for covid19 before departing Antigua en route to Manchester. Upon arrival, the players will be quarantined and tested again.

They will live, train and play Emirates Old Trafford, before heading to the Ageas Bowl in Southampton for the first Test. The second and third matches will take place at Old Trafford. Both venues have hotels on site to facilitate the visiting team.

English cricket officials have dubbed these venues “bio-secure” and matches will be played without spectators.

WI skipper Jason Holder, recognises the significance of a series that has acquired historic status due to the global pandemic.

It will be the first Test series to be played without any spectators present.

“This is a huge step forward in cricket and in sports in general,” Holder said in Antigua. “A lot has gone into the preparations for what will be a new phase in the game. I’m happy for the support and well-wishes we have been receiving from our loyal and dedicated fans once it was confirmed the tour would go ahead. This has been a source of great inspiration.”

Holder was eager to make a welcome return to competitive cricket after an over three-month downtime courtesy coronavirus. The visiting team expressed confidence ahead of the tour, which was originally scheduled to bowl off on June 4, but then pushed back due to the novel virus.

“We have a fantastic group of cricketers, coaches, medical staff and support staff and I know everyone is eagerly looking forward to the start of the first match. There is expectation in the air that we will defend the Wisden Trophy and we will certainly put in the work and give it our all to keep hold of it.”

The teams will be allowed to substitute players displaying coronavirus symptoms following an International Cricket Council announcement on Tuesday of the change for Test matches. Other changes made to accommodate covid19 include players no longer being allowed to use saliva to shine a ball and the temporary removal of a need for neutral umpires.

As a result of the latter change, teams will be given an additional DRS review per innings, upping allocations to three.

West Indies Team: Jason Holder (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich, Chemar Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach. Reserves: Sunil Ambris, Joshua DaSilva, Shannon Gabriel, Keon Harding, Kyle Mayers, Preston McSween, Marquino Mindley, Shayne Moseley, Anderson Phillip, Oshane Thomas, Jomel Warrican.