(This entry was originally published on Saturday, April 25th, 2009)
West Indies cricket team is now in England on a full-fledged tour during which England hosts West Indies in a two-match test series and three-match ODI series. Test series, which started on 6 May 2009, will be followed by the ODI series. With England losing the test series during their recent tour of West Indies, the home team is now gearing up for revenge before the home crowd, while West Indies is looking to avenger for their defeat in the ODI series at home. In fact, lots of things are now at stake ahead of the test and ODI series.
You know that Sri Lanka was supposed to visit England, in stead of West Indies. However, Sri Lanka’s tour was postponed when Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) decided to allow some of its key players including Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara to miss the England tour so that they can play in IPL 2009 tournament which is currently going on in South Africa.
Then England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) invited West Indies to fill up the void and make a visit to England in May 2009. England’s recent tour of West Indies brought about mixed result for England and they are now confident that they would be able to improve on their recent success. In fact, the West Indies tour was the first assignment of new captain Andrew Strauss and he is now going to lead England at home for the first and opponent is same West Indies. The upcoming series is also very important for England’s newly appointed coach Andy Flower whose excellent guidance and working relationship with Captain Strauss during England’s recent tour to West Indies helped him to clinch the England’s coaching job permanently. Now, it is down to Andy Flower to justify his appointment during West Indies’ tour of England.
For West Indies, the series is also very important for several reasons. First of all, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is currently facing financial problem and it has been aggravated since Texas-based billionaire Allen Stanford was accused of several financial fraud. So, WICB is expected make some cash-in through England tour. Secondly, West Indies under the leadership of Chris Gayle has shown some prospect recently and continuing that form on England soil would be a big challenge for them. West Indies defeated England 1-0 in the test series at home, but lost in the ODI series 3-2. So, replicating the test success and retaining the ODI series title would be another big challenge for the visiting team in England.
West Indies defeated England in the first of the five-match series at home by an innings and 23 runs, but England bounced back strongly in the remainder of the series. In ODI series, England did not have a very good start, but they came back in the series and eventually clinched the series by winning the last ODI of the five-match series. England posted a thumping 3-0 victory in the four-match test series when West Indies visited England last time in 2007. Interestingly, West Indies emerged winner 2-1 in the three match ODI series in 2007 in England, coinciding England’s performance in the recent tour of West Indies.
So, you can see that West Indies’ tour of England seems to feature some exciting matches. The test series kicks off on 6 May 2009 with the first test goes underway at the Lord’s cricket ground. Second and the final test will take place at the Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street. The ODI series starts from 21 May with the first match taking place at Headingley, Leeds. Second and the third ODI matches will be held at the County Ground, Bristol and Edgbaston, Birmingham respectively. Here, I am giving you the full schedule of England tour of West Indies:
| Match | Date | Competing Teams | Time | Venue |
| 1st Test | 6-10 May 2009 Wed-Sun | England vs West Indies | Local 11:00; GMT 10:00 | Lord’s, London |
| 2nd Test | 14-18 May 2009 Wed-Sun | England vs West Indies | Local 11:00; GMT 10:00 | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street |
| 1st ODI | 21 May 2009 Thursday | England vs West Indies | Local 10:45; GMT 09:45 | Headingley, Leeds |
| 2nd ODI | 24 May 2009 Sunday | England vs West Indies | Local 10:45; GMT 09:45 | County Ground, Bristol |
| 3rd ODI | 26 May 2009 Tuesday | England vs West Indies | Local 10:45; GMT 09:45 | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
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