As the West Indies cricket team arrived in England earlier this week amid the COVID-19 pandemic, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson has shown his gratitude to the touring side.
West Indies is the first international team to arrive in the UK since the shutdown caused by the global Coronavirus pandemic across the world in mid-March.
They will play England in a three-match Test series, which was originally scheduled to begin on 4 June, starting on 8 July at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton followed by the second and third Test on 16 and 26 July respectively both at Old Trafford with all matches will be held at bio-secure venues without crowds.
Thanking all the West Indian group, the veteran paceman on Thursday (June 11) said the hosts are really grateful that Jason Holder and his team made “a scary decision” to tour England despite knowing the fact that the UK is one of the worst COVID-19 affected countries in the world.
While the Caribbean have recorded fewer than 100 COVID-19 cases, the United Kingdom has been one of the world's hardest-hit countries with more than 40,000 deaths and even on Wednesday, there were 245 deaths and 1,003 cases recorded for the Coronavirus.
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Anderson said during a conference call on Thursday: “It's great for the game, brilliant, that we're closing in on getting some Test cricket played after a decent layoff due to COVID-19 crisis.”
The pacer further said on the touring party, “From our point of view, we're very grateful the West Indies are coming over here. With what's going on in the world, I can imagine it's a scary decision for a lot of them, for all of them, to make the journey over.”
Meanwhile, Anderson is one of the 55 players asked to return to England training ahead of the West Indies series and he has been enjoying bowling in the nets again even though following social-distancing measures after COVID-19 forced long break from the game.
He further added, “I managed to tick over quite well during the lockdown. Luckily, I've got enough space to fit half my run-up in on my drive.”
The veteran also admitted the workload for the bowlers as the three-Test will be played in just 21 days, adding: “There are concerns -- we're not going to have had any competitive cricket before that first Test match and we've got three Tests in quick succession, so there are obviously things we need to look at in terms of workloads and whether we play all three as bowlers or whether we rotate.”
Anderson signed off by saying, “I'm sure the medical staff and coaches are doing their due diligence on that. It's something we'll have to look at in a few weeks' time but at the moment I'm enjoying being back and feeling really good.”
(With AP Inputs)
