West Indies Rewarded With MCC's Spirit Of Cricket Award For Sending Their Teams To England This Year

West Indies’ men’s and women’s cricket team’s decision to tour England this year has earned them the Spirit of Cricket Award from the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). West Indies men’s team, which is currently busy in their Test series against New Zealand in the latter’s home, decided to tour England in July that marked the resumption of international cricket after a hiatus of around four months.

The COVID-19 disease, which emerged for the first time in late 2019, began putting brakes on all the cricketing events worldwide as the outbreak started exploding. The fans eagerly waited for the professional matches to resume as they were robbed of not only the IPL but also several bilateral series during that period. Hence, the West Indies accepting to tour England during challenging times also paved the way for the rest of the series to take place.

The Caribbeans arrived in England to participate in the three-match Test series during which both the teams stayed in the bio-secure environment, constructed to protect them from the virus. Though the tourists could win the series, they received a vote of thanks worldwide for their co-operation. The women’s side featured in the T20 series against England in September after India and South Africa refused to tour the nation, owing to the pandemic.

MCC President acknowledges the contribution of West Indies’ teams:

Former Sri Lankan great and captain Kumar Sangakkara, who serves as the President of MCC, admitted that West Indies’ women’s and men’s team deserve the award for their courage in deciding to tour England. Sangakkara added that in a year when cricket has brought some joy in the faces of people, such deeds embody the spirit of cricket.

“In a year when cricket has brought us much solace, it is entirely fitting that Cricket West Indies and their men’s and women’s teams should be recognised for the courage of their decision to tour England, an act which truly embodies the spirit of cricket,” Sangakkara said as quoted by Reuters.

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