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West Indies offer to host England Test series in Caribbean

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has offered to host England in the Test series that is scheduled to be played in the UK later this year.

England are set to host the Windies in a Test series in June but those fixtures are unlikely to go ahead because of the coronavirus outbreak around the world.

The English domestic season, which was due to start next month, will inevitably be delayed and early season international games will most likely be rescheduled.

CWI CEO Jonny Grave said they have been in touch with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) about hosting the Test series.

Grave told ESPNCricinfo: "I've spoken to (ECB CEO) Tom Harrison a couple of times in the last few days and assured him that we will be as flexible, supportive and helpful as possible.

"To that end, yes, we have offered to host the series here in the Caribbean if that is deemed helpful.

"The ECB would retain all commercial and broadcast rights.

"This is not about us trying to take advantage of the situation. It's about the cricket community working together at a difficult time for everyone and, one of the many great things about the Caribbean is, we can play cricket all year round.

"There has long been a special relationship between the cricket communities in the Caribbean and England and we wanted to make it clear we will do everything we can to help."

The coronavirus has, at this stage, not had a major impact in the Caribbean as it has in other parts of the world with only two reported cases in each of Barbados and St Lucia and one in Antigua.

Another option that the ECB is considering is shifting the Windies Test series to September.

- TEAMtalk media

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