WEST INDIES players including captain Jason Holder have resumed batting and bowling with their tour to England about to receive the green light. The three-Test series behind closed doors is expected to be signed-off by Caribbean cricket chiefs on Thursday. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates The plan is […]
WEST INDIES players including captain Jason Holder have resumed batting and bowling with their tour to England about to receive the green light.
The three-Test series behind closed doors is expected to be signed-off by Caribbean cricket chiefs on Thursday.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
The plan is for the squad to fly from their home islands to Antigua and then board a charter to the UK on or around June 10.
The team will be quarantined under government law for two weeks in the hotel on site at Old Trafford – although they hope to be permitted to train in some capacity – before travelling to the Ageas Bowl in Southampton leading into the First Test on July 8.
The next two Tests are due at Old Trafford on July 16 and July 24.
Cricket West Indies chief executive Johnny Grave said: “Based on our information and the fact that every day there are fewer and fewer cases in the UK, everyone is increasingly confident the tour will happen.
Players will be on private charters before entering a bubble… the likelihood of coming into contact with someone who is Covid-19 positive is very low.
Cricket West Indies chief exec Johnny Grave
“Our board meeting is on May 28. If the team has to leave at the start of June, we’d need board approval by then in order to get the charter flight logistics in place and select the players.
“The ECB are in the final stages of finalising their plans in order to get support from the UK government and the ECB board.”
Grave added: “Players would be tested prior to departure and then will be on private charters within the Caribbean and a private charter to the UK before entering a biosecure bubble.
“Everyone else in that bubble will have been tested. So the likelihood of coming into contact with someone who is Covid-19 positive is very low.
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“On that basis – and because of advice from our medical people – we believe it is a safe environment. The chances of someone catching Covid-19 are small.”
The First Test was originally scheduled at the Kia Oval on June 4 but the series was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Captain Holder, star batsman Shai Hope and speedster Kemar Roach are among those who re-started training in the nets at the famous Kensington Oval in Barbados on Sunday.
While England’s bowlers practised individually when they returned last week, the Windies players are operating in small groups with a coach in staggered sessions. They observe social distancing and wear facemasks.
Other players across the region are expected to resume training this week.
Three one-day internationals against Ireland, originally planned to be played behind closed doors at Old Trafford from July 30 to August 4, are now expected to be switched to the Ageas Bowl.
