West Indies Jason Holder bowls to New Zealand during their One-day International cricket match in Hamilton,
New Zealand. Associated Press / New Zealand Herald; Christine Cornege
By Azad Ali
The 25-man squad which left the
Caribbean last week for their threematch
Test series against England
starting on July 8, have tested negative
for the COVID-19 virus.
This was revealed by Cricket West
Indies (CWI) CEO Johnny Grave, who
said that everyone will be tested when
they arrive at Old Trafford, England.
The Windies contingent which includes
a 14-man squad and 11 reserve players,
met in Antigua last Monday. Grave said
CWI used two charter flights to get the
players to Antigua.
Caribbean L 42 ife, June 19-25, 2020
One charter brought the Jamaican
players to Antigua and the other players
arrived in Antigua on another charter
last Monday.
The three T&T reserve players on
the squad are the fast bowling pair of
Oshane Thomas, Shannon Gabriel and
Anderson Cooper along with wicket /
keeper batsman Joshua Da Silva.
Darren Bravo of T&T, Guyanese
Shimron Hetmyer, along with allrounder
Kemo Paul of Guyana, have
pulled out the squad due to COVID- 19
safety concerns.
West Indies will be based in Manchester
for three weeks before traveling
to Southampton for the first Test at
Ageas Bowl. The Jason Holder team
will return to Manchester for the second
and third matches at the Emirates,
Old Trafford on July 16 and 24
respectively.
The tour was uncertain for months
due to the COVID-19 pandemic but
CWI and the England and Wales Cricket
Board agreed to play.
The entire series will be played
behind closed doors and the Windies
players will remain in a bio-secure
environment.
By Azad Ali
Cricket West Indies (CWI), along
with several members of the West
Indies women’s cricket fraternity, have
expressed sadness at the recent passing
of Cleon Smith, the highly-respected
and hardworking coach of the Jamaica
Women’s team.
The 60-year-old died at the Kingston
hospital, following a long illness.
CWI Director of Cricket, Jimmy
Adams, said Smith had made cricket
development his life-long passion.”
“It was with a deep sense of loss that
all of us at CWI heard of the passing of
Cleon Smith,” the former West Indies
Test captain said.
Among those paying tribute were
West Indies player Deandra Dottin, one
of the leading all-rounders in the women’s
game, along with Trinidad and
Tobago West Indies captain Merissa
Augilleira.
Adams said Smith was one of the
chief architects in the development of
women’s cricket in the last decade and
was coach when the country won several
regional titles.
He had a hand in the development of
several outstanding players, including
Stafanie Taylor, the world-rated Jamaica
and West Indies all-rounder and
captain.
Sir Vivian
Continued from Page 41
best overseas player at both counties
when BBC Sport ran votes for each
individual county side in May.
The 17 county winners then went
through to the overall vote.
Other West Indians who made the
shortlist were the late Malcolm Marshall
(7), Curtly Ambrose (2) and
Michael Holding (1).
COVID scares
Michael Holding. Associated Press /
Andres Leighton
Continued from Page 41
would not blame any of the players
for making that choice, their
talents would be missed as West
Indies seek to defend the Wisden
Trophy.
“The West Indies board, before
they were even confirming the tour,
told everyone and the entire public
that they would not be forcing anyone
to go on the tour,” he said.
“I think it’s unfortunate as far as
West Indies cricket is concerned.
I’m not going to tell anyone that
they should be going to England
because COVID-19 is around someone
may get sick or even worse. But
at the same time I think it’s unfortunate
for the West Indies team
because these guys have quite a
bit of talent and they’ll be missed,”
said Holding, who is now a broadcaster.
Racial protests
Continued from Page 41
to motivate them to play for the West
Indies they should not be here. However,
we have seen in the past, that
when something stirs the pot, we
respond well.”
WI team tests negative for COVID-19
Jamaica Women’s cricket coach Smith dies