At present the sides are scheduled to play three Tests in England with the first due to start at The Kia Oval on June 4. But with it now all but inevitable that the start of the English domestic season will be significantly delayed and a peak in COVID-19 cases in the UK anticipated in June, it seems highly unlikely the series will proceed as planned.

ESPNcricinfo understands that the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) have held several discussions in recent days. The options under consideration include the possibility of rescheduling the series - with September the most obvious time - or staging it in the Caribbean. It is understood CWI have also offered to host England's three-Test series against Pakistan, scheduled to start on July 30.

While there are COVID-19 cases in the Caribbean, the virus would appear, at this stage, to have taken hold far more in the UK. There have, for example, been only two reported cases in each of Barbados and St Lucia and one in Antigua.

"I've spoken to Tom Harrison a couple of times in the last few days," Jonny Grave, CWI's CEO told ESPNcricinfo, "and assured him that we will be as flexible, supportive and helpful as possible.

"To that end, yes, we have offered to host the series here in the Caribbean if that is deemed helpful. The ECB would retain all commercial and broadcast rights.

"This is not about us trying to take advantage of the situation. It's about the cricket community working together at a difficult time for everyone and, one of the many great things about the Caribbean is, we can play cricket all year round. There has long been a special relationship between the cricket communities in the Caribbean and England and we wanted to make it clear we will do everything we can to help."

Read more at ESPNcricinfo

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In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

CWI saying WI governments will be more successful than the UK in fighting the virus?

In reply to camos

BIM will take the lion's share of the tour as usual with Antiqua coming in second.

Muddies, Yardies and Tits will just have to listen to proceedings on their radios.

In reply to Drapsey

Bim is not going to want them this time, they will allow them to camp elsewhere.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

CWI officials should not assume that because there are few known cases of COVID 19 at present in the Caribbean, it would remain so. It appears clear that the virus may be present for a significant period of time before symptoms develop. Let's wait and see how this develops.

In reply to camos

Should be interesting when the Barmy Army say, likkle Hingland or nothing!

In reply to Cameron

those damn fools are so out of touch!

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Does the CWI realise that several of the cases of coronavirus in Jamaica came from England?

Does the CWI want to import more coronavirus cases from England to the Caribbean?

please do not bring any to Guyana

we cannot afford corona visitors

tenks

In reply to mikesiva

We need to empathize with CWI. They need to balance the books, remember?

The entire tour could be confined to likkle Hingland.

In reply to camos

So what is the reasoning here—that the U.K. will be on lockdown while the Caribbean will be relatively untouched?

That the pandemic would have died down by then? If so, wouldn’t the U.K. be in a position to host the series?

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

CWI running government policy now. They well fass and out ah place!

In reply to JOJO

Let us hope CWI view this as good Public Relations with their counterparts in England. They could not seriously be considering hosting two Test series during a pandemic.

In reply to JOJO

No, they want the relatively Covid-19 free West Indies to be infected by a bunch of Brits, only too willing to escape England for the Caribbean.

UEFA have postponed their international matches from end March to end June, subject to situation updates.

China might soon be in the enviable position of hosting international sport on behalf of other countries. The new economics. Just force a 14 day quarantine camp for teams entering the country. IPL, CPL, Euros, Premier league, tennis, racing

In reply to camos

I believe a test series can be hosted safely in the Caribbean, but extreme management will be required:

1. Before the tour, every member of the Poms will be tested and those negative quarantined in a sanitized hotel facility

2. Same for all West Indian players

3. Same for all officials and TV/Commies workers

4. Sanitize and quarantine an air plane for travel assuring it is contaminated free

5. Sanitize and quarantine proof ready hotel for all of the above players, officials etc to stay

6. Test and quarantine all the hotel workers (great pay of coure) who will be taking care of the players, officials etc

7. 4 Doctors in the set up to observe, monitor and teach on safety standards during the tour.

If management can do this, they would have created an air tight environment that will facilitate cricket commerce safely and effectively.

The cost will be recouped- as the global tv audience will be beyond anything ever seen for cricket.

I don't need to mention the stadium will be empty of spectators.

Managers must think this way, it may be the future for the future.

IT CAN BE DONE

In reply to Emir

stop putting the others you are not going to test at risk

airport ppl, taxi ppl, drivers, cooks, hotel people, etc

In reply to doosra

The only Corona,Guyana needs is Corona Beer!!!!!

On a serious note,CWI has shown a level of IGNORANCE and ARROGANCE that is MIND BOGGLING.They have failed to understand what a PANDEMIC means and think that just because the Caribbean has few cases of Covid 19 at present that it means they are not going to have many more in the future.

Everyone is a critic. All the article seems to be saying is that if the English season (which we all know finishes in September) cannot find the space to host the series then there is a consideration to holding it in the West Indies.

All of you naysayers would be those who later on in the year (if COVID was not an issue in the West Indies at that point) would be sayng, why was it not considered. Well it is being considered so shut up all of you and stop moaning about the CWI at least looking at options.

I for one would welcome cricket in September / October or November if that is the only time it can be played

In reply to doosra

They will not be at risk because everyone will be tested.

Are you are manager?

In reply to Emir

Regardless of what CWI arranges, if Corona is still an issue or the UK or Caribbean governments are against the tour, it will not happen. People just like to bury their heads in the sand and moan

In reply to Emir

This is NOT about testing everyone

This is about preventing people from getting it in the first place

There will be no need for testing if you don't have cases

In reply to doosra

And the tour WILL NOT go ahead if there is still a significant risk. But if it can be played in the West Indies in October/November - then why not. It definitely can't be played in England at that time

In reply to doosra

You are not manager so it will be difficult for you to understand the context of the narrative.

Sorry kiddo

In reply to laynew

CWI proposal is to play in the Caribbean in June or in England in September.

In reply to camos

It's an opening position - negotiating. It's not the only option

In reply to laynew

You are not negotiating in good faith if your counter offer is not realistic and both June and later in the hurricane season seem as such.