Ja trio in 30-man WI squad for England tour

JAMAICA AND West Indies opener John Campbell has been named along with compatriot middle-order batsmen Jermaine Blackwood and Nkrumah Bonner in a 30-man provisional West Indies squad for the impending tour of England which is tentatively set for July.

The Gleaner understands that the trio received their call from head selector Roger Harper and was briefed upon the possible radical changes if the first-ever bio-secure Test gets under way pending medical clearance.

Subject to government approval, the ECB is in an advanced stage of an ambitious plan to stage six Test matches behind closed doors involving three matches against the West Indies and three against Pakistan in just over seven weeks at two venues.

The West Indies are set to select 25 players for the tour which would see matches played at the Ageas Bowl in Hampshire and Old Trafford.

The radical conditions stipulated for the three-Test would see no spectators involved and only players and officials would be granted access to the two venues and hotels attached to the ground.

Opener John Campbell, who is expected to be in the touring party, says the unprecedented scenario would be a challenge, as everyone involved would virtually be in a bubble. However, he and his teammates are eager to get cricket back up and running since the coronavirus pandemic put a halt to sports worldwide two months ago.

“I haven’t been able to bat a ball for so long now. I am very eager to get out there to get back to doing what I love,” said Campbell.

“It will definitely be very different but International cricket is a test unto itself and mentally it is going to be tough playing cricket without fans but for us regional first-class cricketers, it won’t be that hard, because we play in front of empty stadiums in our domestic competition, so the adjustment won’t be that difficult,” added Campbell.

Top-10 Leading Run-Scorers

The left-hander was among the top-10 leading run-scorers in this year’s regional four-day West Indies Championship amassing 491 runs. Blackwood, who is also expected to make the trip, was the top run-getter in the eight-round championship, chalking up 768 runs while Nkrumah Bonner scored 523 runs.

In the meantime, Campbell is eager for the United Kingdom tour to go on as he is itching to add to his reasonable good start to his young international career.

“The last Test match I played, I scored my maiden Test fifty and it was a really good feeling. I am definitely looking to score my first Test century on this trip. It would be good for me and my confidence and the team as well.”