Windies team depart for England for 3-Test series

St John's (Antigua) : The West Indies cricket team have departed from Antigua for the three-Test tour of England slated to begin July 8.

According to Cricket West Indies, the team departed Monday evening after having arrived safely from the two charter planes that collected the players and staff from their home countries throughout the day.

"All the touring party based in the Caribbean completed their COVID-19 tests last week and all the results have been confirmed as negative," said CWI in a media release.

On arrival in Manchester on Tuesday, the entire Windies touring party will be tested again for COVID-19 before taking part in the series which will be played in a "bio-secure" environment.

The bio-secure protocols will restrict movement in and out of the venues, so a group of reserve players will travel to train and help prepare the Test squad and ensure replacements are available in case of any injury.

The first Test is slated to be played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton (July 8-12) with the second and third matches at Old Trafford in Manchester from July 16-20 and then July 24-28.