JASON HOLDER, the West Indies’ captain, who suffered an ankle injury in this week’s intra-squad three-day match in Manchester saw his talented tourists in impressive form with the bat. 

The Barbados star, who hardly featured in the penultimate warm-up match before they face hosts England next month, is expected to be fit enough to play next week at Lancashire’s Old Trafford ground. 

West Indies coach Phil Simmons confirmed that the world’s no.1 all-rounder Holder “has had a slight niggle on his ankle”. He failed to bowl in the contest and, following the ignominy of a golden duck, did not bat in his team’s second innings. 

Smile

But Holder did have something to smile about the warm-up match at Old Trafford with Shamarh Brooks, Shane Dowrich and Shayne Moseley each hitting half-centuries on June 25 as the match ground to a draw in the sweltering heat. 

Test vice-captain Kraigg Brathwaite’s XI resumed on the final day with a lead of 181 at 99-3, Jamaican John Campbell making amends for his opening day duck with an impressive knock of 49. But it was Brooks (66no) and Dowrich (56no) who superbly combined with an unbeaten stand of 131 as the team declared their second innings at lunch on 231-4, setting Holder’s side an improbable target of 314 for victory. The response was 149-3, with reserve team player Moseley – who hit 40 in his first innings – scoring an unbeaten 83 from 142 deliveries.

This game represented the first top-level cricket match since the suspension of cricket in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Simmons added that Holder is expected to bowl in the four-day intra-squad match next week, starting on June 29, before the Wisden Trophy trio of Tests against England begins at Hampshire’s Aegas Bowl in Southampton on July 8.

Bio secure

The 25-player Windies squad will live, train and play in a bio-secure environment during their seven-week tour of England, as part of the comprehensive medical and operations plans to ensure player and staff safety.

These bio-secure protocols will restrict movement in and out of the venues, with 11 reserve players travelling to train and help prepare the Test squad.

The Windies are keen to retain the Wisden Trophy, which they so expertly claimed 2-1 on home soil last year.

Windies squad:
Test squad – Jason Holder, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shemarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Chemar Holder, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach.
Reserves – Sunil Ambris, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Keon Harding, Kyle Mayers, Preston McSween, Marquino Mindley, Shane Moseley, Anderson Phillip, Oshane Thomas, Jomel Warrican.

WISDEN TROPHY TEST SCHEDULE
July 8-12
1st Test – Ageas Bowl, Southampton

July 16-20
2nd Test – Old Trafford, Manchester

July 24-28
3rd Test – Old Trafford, Manchester