Windies arrive for historic Test series
THE West Indies squad have arrived in Manchester ahead of their three-Test tour of England.
Every member of the 39-strong touring party, including 25 players, tested negative for Covid19 before they set off on a charter flight to Manchester Airport.
They were each due to be tested again at their new base at Emirates Old Trafford, where they will live and train in a ‘biosecure’ environment for the vast majority of their seven-week stay.
A West Indies Cricket statement said: “The biosecure protocols will restrict movement in and out of the venues, so a group of reserve players will travel to train and help prepare the Test squad and ensure replacements are available in case of any injury.”
The first Test will take place at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on July 8 before, in a departure from tradition, two Tests are played at one venue Old Trafford. Lancashire CCC’s ground will host the second test from July 16-20 and the third test from July 24-28.
Captain Jason Holder told the West Indies Cricket website: “This is a huge step forward in cricket and in sports in general as we travel over to England for this series.
●●Head groundsman Matt Merchant works on the pitch at Emirates Old Trafford, home of Lancashire CCC; Inset, West Indies’ Jason Holder with coach Roddy Estwick arrive at Manchester Airport ahead of their Test series with England
“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.”
Meanwhile, Test teams will be allowed to use substitutes to replace players displaying coronavirus symptoms in one of several interim regulation changes rubber-stamped by the International Cricket Council on Tuesday.
Like-for-like replacements can be made at the discretion of the match referee in a measure in line with concussion substitutes when international cricket resumes, with England due to play the West Indies next month. It is that aim which has led to the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee approving a series of recommendations handed down by its Cricket Committee last month as it looks to protect the safety of players and match officials.
Coronavirus replacements have only been given the go-ahead in Tests, not one-day internationals or Twenty20s.
Other temporary changes to playing regulations include a ban on applying saliva to the ball, although the ICC says “umpires will manage the situation with some leniency during an initial period of adjustment for the players”.
Each team will have two warnings per innings but subsequent infractions of the rule would incur a five-run penalty, and whenever saliva is applied, the umpires must clean the ball before play recommences.
Non-neutral umpires can be used and therefore, because “there may be less experienced umpires on duty at times”, teams will be given an additional DRS review, taking their allotments to three in Tests and two in limitedovers.