West Indian cricket team in England in 2020

The West Indies cricket team are currently touring England to play three Test matches. The team were originally scheduled to tour the country in May and June 2020.[1][2] However, the series was initially postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] Cricket West Indies stated that they would do everything they can to help accommodate the fixtures,[4] including moving the fixtures back or even hosting them in the West Indies.[5] A revised tour schedule, with the first Test starting in July, was proposed at the end of May 2020.[6] The fixtures were confirmed the following month,[7] with the matches to be played behind closed doors.[8] The Test series will form part of the inaugural 2019–21 ICC World Test Championship.[9][10]

West Indian cricket team in England in 2020
 
  England West Indies
Dates 8 – 28 July 2020
Captains Jason Holder
Test series

Background

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that no professional matches would take place before 28 May 2020 due to the pandemic.[11] In April 2020, Ashley Giles, the director of cricket, said that hosting the Test matches in June was looking "less and less likely",[12] but that "everything is on the table" with regards to England's schedule in 2020.[13] On 24 April 2020, the ECB confirmed that no professional cricket would be played in England before 1 July 2020,[14] with the tour being postponed.[15] After the tour was postponed, both cricket boards had been involved in "positive" talks about rescheduling the series.[16] This included the possibility of the West Indies team going into isolation for 14 days,[17] and the first Test match starting on 8 July 2020.[18] The ECB were also looking at hosting the Test matches in bio-secure environments, with Old Trafford in Manchester and the Rose Bowl in Southampton being possible venues, due to their hotel facilities.[19]

On 13 May 2020, Johnny Grave, the chief executive of Cricket West Indies, said that he was hopeful that the tour would go ahead, but that players would be "very nervous" about travelling.[20] The next day, the ECB confirmed that England players would return to training in the following week.[21] Grave also confirmed that thirty players had been identified for preparation for the tour,[22] with the West Indies' Test captain Jason Holder saying that no-one will be forced to travel, with safety being the priority.[23] In late May 2020, a revised schedule was issued, with the final Test match taking place at Old Trafford in late July 2020.[24] Grave also revealed details of a tentative tour itinerary, with the first Test starting on 8 July 2020 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.[25] The same week, the UK government published updated guidance on the resumption of training for elite sports.[26] The West Indies also resumed training, with small groups taking part in on-field sessions at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.[27] Cricket West Indies gave its approval "in principle" of touring England.[28] On 2 June 2020, the ECB confirmed the dates and venues for the three-match series.[29]

On 29 May 2020, the ECB named a 55-man group of players to begin training ahead of international fixtures starting in England.[30][31] On 17 June 2020, this was trimmed down to a 30-man squad to prepare behind closed doors for the Test matches.[32] England and the West Indies will play inter-squad warm-up matches in Southampton and Manchester respectively prior to the Test series.[33][34] On 3 June 2020, Cricket West Indies named a 14-man squad, along with eleven reserve players for the Test series.[35] Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul decided against travelling to England, due to coronavirus fears,[36] and the length of time they could be away from their families.[37] On 8 June 2020, the squad flew out from Antigua,[38] arriving at Manchester Airport the following morning.[39] After arrival, Jason Holder said that the players feel safe and that people "were crying out for cricket".[40]

Squads
Tests
 England  West Indies[41]

Cricket West Indies also named Sunil Ambris, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Keon Harding, Kyle Mayers, Preston McSween, Marquino Mindley, Sheyne Moseley, Anderson Phillip, Oshane Thomas and Jomel Warrican as reserve players for the Test series.[42]

England captain Joe Root is expected to miss one of the Test matches to be at the birth of his child.[43] Ben Stokes will captain England in Root's absence.[44]

Practice matches

West Indies were due to play 3 tour matches, one each against England Lions, Worcestershire, and Northamptonshire. However, the tour matches were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the 25-man touring squad are playing two intra-squad matches to serve as preparation.[45] The squad has been split into two teams, with one team being captained by Kraigg Brathwaite and the other being captained by Jason Holder. The teams are named after their respective captains. England are also due to play an intra-squad match as warm-up, at the Rose Bowl starting on 1 July.[45]

23–25 June 2020
Scorecard
v
275 (79 overs)
Kraigg Brathwaite 84 (162)
Alzarri Joseph 4/60 (16 overs)
193 (51.1 overs)
Sunil Ambris 52 (70)
Raymon Reifer 5/60 (13 overs)
231/4d (51 overs)
Shamarh Brooks 66* (99)
Alzarri Joseph 2/17 (6 overs)
149/3 (44 overs)
Sheyne Moseley 83* (142)
Oshane Thomas 1/8 (4 overs)
Match drawn
Old Trafford, Manchester
Umpires: Michael Gough (Eng) and Alex Wharf (Eng)
  • Holder XI won the toss and elected to field.

Test series

1st Test

2nd Test

3rd Test

References
  1. "Future Tours Programme" (PDF). International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  2. "England men's international schedule for 2020 confirmed". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  3. "CWI president Ricky Skerritt: Players travelling to England find themselves in the middle of history". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  4. "Exclusive: Cricket West Indies promise to be 'flexible, supportive and creative' to accommodate England Test series". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  5. "CWI offer to host England Test series in Caribbean". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  6. "Cricket West Indies CEO confident of going ahead with England tour". ANI News. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  7. "England-West Indies Test schedule confirmed". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  8. "West Indies announce two newcomers in squad for England tour". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  9. "Schedule for inaugural World Test Championship announced". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  10. "Men's Future Tours Programme" (PDF). International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  11. "ECB COVID-19 announcements and updates". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  12. "England v West Indies looking 'less and less likely' in June". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  13. "Ashley Giles remains positive as West Indies pin hopes on touring in July". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  14. "ECB announces further delay to the professional cricket season". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  15. "No English cricket before July, Hundred decision delayed". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  16. "ECB and CWI hold 'positive' talks on rescheduling West Indies tour". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  17. "West Indies tour of England: Windies isolation period under discussion". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  18. "Irish work to bring forward England duels". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  19. "England players face 'long stint' away from home as part of Test planning". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  20. "West Indies players 'very nervous' about England tour". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  21. "England players to return to training next week". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  22. "CWI Media Statement: England Tour 2020". Cricket West Indies. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  23. "England v West Indies: Jason Holder will not force players to travel". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  24. "Ireland still on for England triple header". The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  25. "West Indies CEO 'increasingly confident' England tour will happen". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  26. "ECB handed discretion over move to stage two training by government". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  27. "West Indies Test players resume training in Barbados". Cricket West Indies. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  28. "CWI Board gives approval in principle for Test Tour of England". Cricket West Indies. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  29. "ECB announces proposed dates and venues for England Men's behind-closed-doors Test series against West Indies". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  30. "England Men confirm back-to-training group". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  31. "Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett left out as England name 55-man training group". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  32. "England men name behind closed doors training group ahead of first Test against West Indies". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  33. "Moeen Ali back in Test frame as England name 30-man training squad". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  34. "Hope believes he can reach dizzying heights again". Cricket West Indies. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  35. "West Indies announce squad for England Test series". The Cricketer. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  36. "England v West Indies: Three Windies players opt out of tour because of coronavirus fears". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  37. "Why West Indies trio pulled out of England tour". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  38. "What next as West Indies arrive in England for three-Test series?". Sky Sports. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  39. "West Indies arrive in Manchester ahead of Test series against England". Evening Standard. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  40. "England v West Indies: Jason Holder says tourists feel safe on England tour". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  41. "Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul turn down call-ups for England tour". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  42. "Squad named for Sandals West Indies Tour of England". Cricket West Indies. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  43. "Ben Stokes promises to take 'positive route' as England captaincy looms". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  44. "England v West Indies: Joe Root set to miss first Test to attend child's birth". BBC Sport. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  45. "England v West Indies: Cricket returns with practice match". BBC Sport. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
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