Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul likely to skip England tour: Reports claim that the West Indian trio has refused to tour England.
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England Test captain Joe Root was pinpoint yesterday when he lauded West Indies for agreeing to tour England for a three-match Test series this month. While West Indies are expected to leave on June 8, the first Test will be played from July 8 after the visitors will quarantine for two weeks.
ALSO READ: James Anderson hopes for career extension due to COVID-19 break
The series will always be remembered for resuming cricket post the novel COVID-19 pandemic. With the global crisis affecting the sport in more ways than one, resuming it amidst the scare speaks highly about the players’ urge to get back on the field.
Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul likely to skip England tour
While West Indies are yet to announce their squad for the tour, if cricket commentator and talk show host Andrew Mason’s words in SportsMax are to be believed, they are highly likely to travel without three of their mainstream players.
It is being reported that two batsmen in Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer and seamer Keemo Paul have decided to opt out of the tour. While no confirmed reason has been revealed, it might be safe to assume that the trio is against traveling amidst coronavirus threat.
While Hetmyer was part of West Indies’ XI for their last Test against Afghanistan last year, Bravo and Paul had last played Test matches earlier in the same year.
According to Mason, West Indies were expected to recall batsman Jermaine Blackwood and fast bowler Shannon Gabriel as replacements for Hetmyer and Paul. While Blackwood has made the cut, Gabriel has been included as a reserve. Both Blackwood and Gabriel had last played in the second Test against India in Jamaica last year.
West Indies updated squad for England tour*
Jason Holder (c), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rovman Cornwall, Shane Dowrich (wk), Chemar Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach.
West Indies 11-member reserves for England tour
Sunil Ambris, Joshua da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Keon Harding, Kyle Mayers, Preston McSween, Marquino Mindley, Shane Moseley, Anderson Phillip, Oshane Thomas, Jomel Warrican.
* – West Indies’ final squad was updated at a later time.
