ECB announces dates, venues for England-Windies Tests in July

Ageas Bowl will host the first Test, while Old Trafford is supposed to host the second and third, subject to UK government clearance.

The three Tests will be played in a bio-secure environment.

 

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl and Lancashire’s Emirates Old Trafford as the two venues for the three-match Test series against West Indies if international cricket resumes behind-closed-doors in July.

Ageas Bowl will host the first Test, while Old Trafford is supposed to host the second and third, subject to UK government clearance.

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Edgbaston has been selected as contingency and training venue.

Schedule First Test v West Indies: 8-12 July at Ageas Bowl Second Test v West Indies: 16-20 July at Emirates Old Trafford Third Test v West Indies: 24-28 July at Emirates Old Trafford

 

The West Indies squad will arrive in the UK on June 9. They will travel to Old Trafford for quarantining and training for three weeks, before moving to Hampshire ahead of the first Test.

The international venues in UK were asked to submit their expressions of interest in a five-day window. Four venues raised their hands and the final recommendations were sanctioned by ECB.

According to the ECB website, the venues had to demonstrate these key principles to create a bio-secure environment Biosecurity Venue perimeter, access and access control Hotel accommodation (onsite or nearby) Medical screening/testing provision Designated areas for isolation of anyone presenting symptoms. Car parking requirements (approx. 200) Medical Screening and Testing sites (approx. 1500 m2) Footprint to enable social distancing Extendable Players and Match Official areas Extendable space for broadcast compounds, studios and written media. Venue/Cricket operations The number and suitability of TV pitches Provision for warm-up matches Indoor and outdoor practice facilities