Windies team face severe endurance test
By Tony Cozier
Stabroek News
August 18, 2002
THE West Indies team faces a severe test of endurance over the last four months of the year.
Presently contesting the regional one-day tournament for the Red Stripe Bowl, the players leave early next month for successive, nonstop series in Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh between September 12 and December 20, that have scheduled five Tests and at least 12 one-day internationals.
The West Indies have been drawn with South Africa and Kenya in the qualifying pool of the ICC Champions’ Trophy in Sri Lanka that runs from September 12 to 30.
The first of three Tests in India starts October 9 in Mumbai, the tour, the first to India since 1994, ending November 24 with the last of seven one-day internationals.
The team goes directly on to Bangladesh for three one-day internationals and two Tests for their first series against Test cricket’s newest team.
The players return to the Caribbean in time for Christmas after which they have just over a month to prepare for the 2003 World Cup where the West Indies open the tournament against hosts, South Africa, in Cape Town on February 9.
The West Indies’ itinerary for the rest of the year:
ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY IN SRI LANKA
September 13 v South Africa in Colombo (Sinhalese Sports Club).
September 17: v Kenya in Colombo (Sinhalese Sports Club).
September 25 (26) and 27 (28): Semi-finals in Colombo (Premadasa Stadium)
September 29 (30): Final in Colombo (Premadasa Stadium.
Tour of India
October 9-13: First Test in Mumbai (Bombay)
October 17-21: Second Test in Chennai (Madras).
October 24-26: First- class match at venue to be announced.
October 30-November 3: Third Test in Kolkata (Calcutta).
November 6: First ODI in Jamshedpur.
November 9: Second ODI in Nagpur.
November 12: Third ODI in Rajkot.
November 15: Fourth ODI in Ahmedabad.
November 18: Fifth ODI in Baroda.
November 21: Sixth ODI in Jodhpur.
November 24: Seventh ODI in Visakapatnam.
Tour of Bangladesh
November 29: First ODI in Dhaka.
November 30: Second ODI in Dhaka.
December 3: Third ODI in Chittagong.
December 8-12: First Test in Chittagong.
December 16-20: Second Test in Dhaka.