ST. JOHN’S, Antigua — Cricket West Indies has announced the match schedule for the England Lions Tour of the Caribbean next February.
The Lions, the official name of the England A-Team, will face their regional counterparts in a series of three “Tests” and three One-day matches — to be played between the islands of Jamaica and Antigua.
“This series will provide an incentive for our players to excel during the next Digicel Regional 4-Day and Regional Super50 tournaments,” said CWI Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams.
“It will also give the Selection Panel a chance to identify the next tier of players they believe have the capacity to be successful on the international stage and would offer those players the platform to announce themselves through the intensity of a higher level of competition against their peers from England.”
It will be the first time in 12 years that the England Lions will be embarking on a Tour of the Caribbean to face West Indies “A”.
On the previous occasion, the two sides — led by Sylvester Joseph and Vikram Solanki respectively — tied a series of three “Tests” 1-1 and four One-day matches 2-2.
The England Lions have also twice played in the CWI Regional 4-Day Tournament, when they reached the semi-finals of eight-team competitions in 2001 and 2011.
Match Schedule
Feb. 5 to 7
Tour Match – Sabina Park, Jamaica
Feb. 11 to 14
1st “Test” – Trelawny Multiplex, Jamaica
Feb. 18 to 21
2nd “Test” – Sabina Park
Feb. 26 to March 1
3rd “Test” – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua
March 4
Tour Match – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground
March 6
1st One-day Match – Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua
March 9
2nd One-day Match – Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua
March 11
3rd One-day Match – Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua