ECB confirm no positive coronavirus tests ahead of England vs West Indies series

England take on the West Indies in a three-match Test series starting on 8 July

The England and Wales Cricket Board have confirmed there have been no positive coronavirus tests among the England and West Indies players ahead of the three-match Test series.

Both teams are currently preparing for their first match since the pandemic halted first class cricket, which begins on 8 July at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

And as part of the protocol to ensure the series takes place, the ECB set up two bio-secure venues at the Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford.

The results from thorough testing over the last three weeks, which involved not only both sets of players, but also support staff, match officials, ECB staff, venue staff and hotel staff, have been returned without a positive test.

A statement from the ECB read: ”The England and Wales Cricket Board can confirm that 702 Covid-19 tests were carried out between 3 June and 23 June with several stakeholder groups working at the bio-secure venues of the Ageas Bowl and Emirates Old Trafford.

West Indies practice at Old Trafford (Getty)

“These groups include players, support staff, match officials, ECB staff, venue staff and hotel staff.

“We can confirm that all 702 tests were negative.”

The West Indies have been practising at Old Trafford in an intra-squad warm-up in what was the first top-level cricket in the world since March.

The ECB have ensured the Ageas Bowl is a bio-secure venue (Getty)

The three-day game saw Kraigg Brathwaite (84), captaining his side, and Shai Hope (83) enjoy time out in the middle with their team posting 275.

While pace bowler Shannon Gabriel impressed with the ball, taking three wickets for West Indies skipper Jason Holder’s team.

England are yet to play out their own intra-squad warm-up match, which begins on 1 July in Southampton.