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Windies’ arrival in England a ‘huge step forward’ for cricket
LONDON, June 9, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – West Indies captain Jason Holder
said international cricket will take a “huge step forward” following
the coronavirus shutdown as his team arrived on Tuesday for a Test
series in England.
Fans who have had to make do with months of television repeats can
now look forward to the real thing again, with England captain Joe
Root saying of the West Indies’ decision to tour: “It must be
extremely scary and I think the whole cricketing world will be
grateful to see some cricket again.”
The three-match contest was originally meant to be played in June
but will now start on July 8 instead because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is a huge step forward in cricket and in sports in general as
we travel over to England for this series,” said Holder.
“A lot has gone into the preparations for what will be a new phase
in the game.”
But rather than matches before crowds at The Oval, Edgbaston and
Lord’s, a now back-to-back series will take place behind closed doors
at the more ‘bio-secure’ Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford.
Whereas players usually spend evenings during a Test away from the
ground, they will now instead find themselves in a protective bubble
at two venues which both have onsite hotels.
Southampton’s Ageas Bowl will stage the series opener from July 8,
with the next two Tests at Old Trafford.
All the West Indies players have tested negative for the virus,
although they will be retested when they arrive in Manchester.
Health measures, including a ban on applying saliva to the ball set
to be rubber-stamped at an International Cricket Council meeting on
Wednesday, will be in place.
“Our main objective is to deliver a safe environment for all
stakeholders,” said England and Wales Cricket Board events director
Steve Elworthy.
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– ‘Done us a favour’ –
Yet there is no escaping the financial impact of the virus.
Going ahead with major matches is seen as vital, with the ECB
estimating it could lose o252 million ($316 million) if there are no
fixtures at all this summer.
One of cricket’s poorest major teams in the West Indies is now
helping one of its wealthiest, despite the Caribbean outfit’s cricket
board having to impose a 50-percent pay cut on all players and staff.
The West Indies, who hold the Wisden Trophy after beating England at
home last year, have selected a 25-strong squad.
They will complete a 14-day quarantine period combined with initial
training at Old Trafford before heading south from Manchester for the
first Test.
Despite the ECB’s efforts, three West Indies players — Darren
Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul — declined to tour, with
Cricket West Indies insisting it will not hold this against them when
it comes to future selection.
Bravo and Hetmyer’s absence deprives the tourists of two top-order
batsman, with Paul less of a loss given he is a back-up for Holder,
the world’s top-ranked allrounder.
Former interim head coach Floyd Reifer will fill in as batting coach
for Monty Desai, who is based in India and cannot join the tour due to
travel restrictions.
“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,” insisted Holder.
But it could be Root who is the most significant absentee from the
first Test.
Root’s wife is expected to give birth to the couple’s second child
in the first week of July.
That may mean Root has to then self-isolate for seven days, putting
a question mark against his participation at Southampton.
Root has backed vice-captain Ben Stokes to do a good job in his
absence but Kevin Pietersen, recalling his own brief stint as England
skipper, was wary of adding to the star all-rounder’s burdens and
suggested wicketkeeper Jos Buttler for the role instead.
“The entertainers and the guys that have to carry the mantle in the
team sometimes aren’t the best captains and sometimes struggle with
the extra added pressure,” Pietersen told talkSPORT.
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