This is the first major international tour following the Covid-19 pandemic.

A 25-man Windies squad plus 11 reserves boarded a charter flight to England on Monday, and they touched down on Tuesday.

The touring squad will train in the UK for the next three weeks ahead of the first Test which will start on 8 July at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. The second and third Tests will both be contested at Old Trafford in Manchester.

All three Tests in series will be played behind closed doors.

Windies assistant, Roddy Estwick, says the Covid-19 situation has afforded them time to focus on one-on-one training.

“We have focused more on one-on-one skills and that is very important in these times.

“The players are coming in at different times and you get the chance to deal with the individuals.

“You can work on the skills, changing techniques and things like that, so we’re quite happy with way that things have gone so far.”

The series will be keenly watched in South Africa and the governing body of the sport, Cricket South Africa, as the Calypso Boys’ next opponent will be the Proteas. The Proteas are set for a tour to the Caribbean, however, the series may be contested at a bio-bubble in South Africa.

The English versus Windies series will be televised live in South Africa as well.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport