History-makers

A large West Indies contingent arrived in Manchester this morning to begin their historic Test tour of England amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

They are the first international sports team to arrive in the United Kingdom since the coronavirus lockdown started in March. The team arrived about 2:45 a.m. Barbados time and were led into the airport facility by captain Jason Holder.

Holder subsequently left the airport in his West Indies tracksuit, wearing a facemask and carrying his luggage as he took the necessary precautions against the coronavirus.

Holder was followed by compatriot Kemar Roach and other teammates in safe distances as the squad then boarded a coach. They headed straight to Emirates Old Trafford where they will spend three weeks at the on-site Hilton Garden Hotel, initially in quarantine and then in a training camp, before travelling to Southampton for the first Test at the Ageas Bowl on July 8.

The last two Tests are scheduled for Manchester on July 16 and July 24.

Strict measures are in place with the 14-man squad and 11 back-up players  having been tested for Covid-19 already – each one coming back negative. They will be tested once again while at Old Trafford.

The three-Test series, originally due to begin on June 4, will be played in a bio-secure environment without spectators. Despite their being no fans, Holder said before leaving for the seven-week tour it was a “huge step forward” for cricket.

“A lot has gone into the preparations for what will be a new phase in the game,” he said.

“I know everyone is eagerly looking forward to the start of the first match when we can get back on the field of play.”

The first Test will be the first international cricket played since Australia beat New Zealand behind closed doors in a One-Day international at Sydney’s SCG on March 13.

But scepticism remains in some quarters about the tour, especially with the number of coronavirus deaths and confirmed cases in the United Kingdom being among the highest in the world. They have recorded nearly 290 000 infections and more than 40 000 deaths.

West Indies limited-overs all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite, who will be part of the BBC Test Match Special commentary team, said the statistics caused “some scepticism” about the tour among some players, three of whom – Darren Bravo, Keemo Paul and Shimron Hetmyer – opted not to travel to England.

“Ultimately, everybody has been champing at the bit not only to practise, but play,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Tuffers & Vaughan show.

“It was more a case of we want to play. However, we want to be sure of the health situation and, once we’re sure of that, we’re happy to get on the plane,” Brathwaite said.

The ECB are budgeting for a total bill of up to £10million to deliver England’s Test and one-day games amid the coronavirus crisis.

The large cost of staging games at bio-secure venues and the associated fees for accommodation, testing and charter flights for the tourists, work out at a staggering £238,000 for every day of action.

The ECB are resigned to the costs and view them as a sensible investment, as hosting international cricket will enable the governing body to protect around £120m in broadcast revenue.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Cricket West Indies president Ricky Skerritt said he didn’t think the West Indies team were taking a bigger risk than England by accepting the tour.

“I don’t think we are taking a bigger risk. The way international cricket commerce is currently structured, we have much less to gain [financially] than England has, but the players [from both teams] will face the same risks. The English players and management are not going to be in a better position than we are under the protocols that have been set up. That is one thing which I made very, very clear as well – that those protocols must apply to all. We have been assured of that by highly qualified medical officials.

“It is also an opportunity for our major sponsor Sandals to get their brand exposed to the English market. But that’s not why we are going to England. We are going because we are convinced it is going to be safe to do so and because we are committed to make the future tours arrangements work, if possible.

“Look, just waking up every day is a risk. But the medical people on both sides of the Atlantic – in the UK and the Caribbean – have been engaged in several conferences on risks specific to Covid-19. We were assured that the risk would be minimal, and I believed it could be done. If not we wouldn’t be doing it. It does merit concern, but all of the concerns have been addressed,” he said.

West Indies are the holders of the coveted Wisden Trophy for which the teams will be contesting.

SQUAD – Jason Holder (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich, Chemar Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer and Kemar Roach.

RESERVES – Sunil Ambris, Joshua DaSilva, Shannon Gabriel, Keon Harding, Kyle Mayers, Preston McSween, Marquino Mindley, Shayne Moseley, Anderson Phillip, Oshane Thomas and Jomel Warrican. (DailyMail/Cricinfo/WG)