James Anderson. (AP Photo)
NEW DELHI: The stage is all ready, the captains have chalked out their plans, the anticipation is high, the fans are waiting eagerly to tune in to the action on their television sets and the teams – England and the West Indies – have their eyes on the trophy.
International cricket is all set to return after the COVID-19 pandemic brought the gentlemen’s game to a standstill in March. The West Indies’ 3 Test series in England will be the first international cricket series in the post Covid world.
The Three Lions and the Caribbean Kings will lock horns in the opening Test of the three-match series at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton from July 8. The second and the third Tests will be played at the same venue – Old Trafford in Manchester. The matches will be played behind closed doors, with no fans in the stadiums and multiple health protocols in place.
“After the Premier League, cricket is back in England. That’s brilliant. I think everyone wants to see sport back and watch it on TV. England have the first opportunity to get cricket back onto TV and the West Indies as well. So, the England and West Indies series will be really important. We never imagined we would be playing sport and that too cricket behind closed doors. I’m sure other sports organisations and the other Boards around the world would be watching and discussing with ECB how to get play back in their countries,” former England spinner
Monty Panesar
, who took 193 international wickets told Timesofindia.com in an exclusive interview.
“I watched Premier League and the TV channels had the noise of the fans. So, it looks like the fans are there. It will be a different feeling when we will see cricket without the fans. Sports become so popular when th