Windies keen to see fans again

CRICKET

WELLINGTON: West Indies allrounder Rovman Powell is counting down until the team’s twoweek isolation comes to an end, and is excited about playing in front of fans for the first time in months in their T20 opener against the Black Caps.

The side have been in isolation in a biosecure facility in Christchurch since arriving in New Zealand last weekend, though they were allowed to resume training after the entire squad tested negative for Covid19 earlier this week.

New Zealand Cricket said yesterday the second round of testing had also come back negative, and the side would have a further test next week before being released.

There are no restrictions on crowd sizes for the series that starts at Eden Park on November 27.

‘‘It has been a while,’’ Powell told reporters yesterday. ‘‘I think it’s the longest cricket has gone without playing in front of crowds.

‘‘So it’s good that New Zealand have dealt with their Covid situation the way they have so we will be able to play in front of crowds.’’

West Indies are the only team to have embarked on two international tours during the pandemic, also touring England in July, although none of those matches allowed fans to attend.

Powell (27) said the team wants to put on a show for the fans by playing the sort of aggressive cricket that brought them a second World T20 title in 2016.

‘‘All the guys have bought into that brand of cricket.

‘‘I think it will bear fruit.’’ — Reuters