The West Indies will host England for a three-match ODI series early next year, the West Indies Cricket Board has announced.
The first two matches will be hosted at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on March 3 and March 5 before the action shifts to Barbados for the final ODI on March 9 at Kensington Oval.
England arrives in the Caribbean on February 22nd and the tourists play two warm-up matches in St Kitts against a WICB President’s XI on February 25th and 27th.
England’s director of cricket, Andrew Strauss, said the tour is part of the team’s preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy.
“We are pleased to have agreed the itinerary for this tour which will form an important part of our ODI squad’s preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales later in the summer,” Strauss said.
“West Indies is always a popular tour destination for England fans and we trust as many supporters as possible will travel to the Caribbean to show support for the team,” he added.
The West Indies missed out on qualification for the Champions Trophy after slipping to 9th in the ICC’s ODI cricket rankings at last year’s cut-off date.
The regional team is currently ranked 8th in the world, and WICB chief executive, Michael Muirhead , said the series presents an opportunity for the West Indies to improve upon its rankings.
“We see this as an additional opportunity to strengthen our performances in this format as we aim to move up in the rankings. We are pleased once again to have England in the region and as always we know the contest will be keen and we know the fans will come out in their numbers,” said Muirhead.
The 2017 Champions Trophy will be hosted by England and Wales from 1 to 18 June.
England’s tour schedule
February 25 Warm-up v WICB Pres XI, St Kitts
February 27 Warm-up v WICB Pres XI, St Kitts
March 3 1st ODI, Antigua
March 5 2nd ODI, Antigua
March 9 3rd ODI, Barbados
