XtraTime Web Desk: International cricket is set to return after a long break post COVID-19 outbreak, when England will face West Indies in the first match of the three-match Test series starting from June 8 at the Ageas Bowl. Before that the Windies cricket team has reached the Ageas Bowl from Old Trafford after a long 4 hour & 30 minutes of journey. England cricket team is already there as they played a practice match between each other. The name of the two sides were Team Buttler & Team Stokes. After three days of play the match ended in a draw.
On the other hand, Thursday saw the last day of the West Indies’ second and final warm-up game, with coach Phil Simmons officially rejoining the team after his latest negative coronavirus test.
West Indies captain Jason Holder tried to gain some time in the middle by promoting himself to open the batting for the side he was leading against a Kraigg Brathwaite XI.
But the all-rounder could only manage two off 15 deliveries, with Holder scoring just seven runs in the warm-up games.
There was better news for Gabriel, who took four for 42 as Brathwaite’s XI were bowled out for 178 in a drawn encounter after resuming on 112 for seven.
Simmons had been self-isolating in his room at the team’s on-site hotel at Old Trafford after leaving the bubble to attend his father-in-law’s funeral.
He watched most of a rain-interrupted four-day game from his balcony but presided over the warm-ups on Thursday after his third negative test for Covid-19.
Before play, the squad marked the passing of outstanding West Indies batsman Everton Weekes, who died aged 95 on Wednesday, with a minute’s silence and wore black armbands as a mark of respect First-innings century-maker Joshua Da Silva picked up where he left off with 56 not out but it remains to be seen whether the reserve wicket-keeper can force his way into the side for the three-Test series.