Three West Indies players refuse to travel for England Test amid coronavirus fears

Three West Indies players have refused to tour the UK over coronavirus fears.

The Windies named a 14-man squad with 11 travelling reserves to arrive in the UK on June 9th for a three Test series against England – the first to be played since the coronavirus pandemic began.

But three of its best players, Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul have all refused to be selected due to their concerns at flying across the world with infections and deaths still at an alarming level in the UK.

Just 37 people have died from covid 19 in the cricket playing Caribbean while more than 300 people have died in the past 24 hours in the UK alone with the overall death toll nudging 40,000.

Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer will miss the Test (Action Images via Reuters)

These figures alone will be enough to strike fear into anyone being asked to travel to the UK at this time, indeed England skipper Joe Root described the situation as 'scary' for the West Indian players.

And although skipper Jason Holder leads a squad that includes many of the players who helped him secure the Wisden Trophy with a 2-1 win over Root's side in 2019, losing two quality batsmen of Bravo and Hetmyer's ability plus the skills of pace bowling all rounder Paul, will be a big blow.

In a statement Cricket West Indies said: “Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul all declined the invitation to travel to England for the tour and CWI fully respects their decision to choose to do so.

“As previously stated, CWI will not hold this decision against these players when considering future selection.”

There are two new faces in the Test squad with 31-year-old batsman Nkrumah Bonner rewarded for his domestic form with his first Test selection, and 22-year-old fast Chemar Holder also included as the leading wicket taker in the West Indies championship for Barbados.

Captain Jason Holder will rue the absence of three key men (Getty Images,)

WEST INDIES TEST SQUAD:

Jason Holder (Captain)

Jermaine Blackwood

Nkrumah Bonner

Kraigg Brathwaite

Shamarh Brooks

John Campbell

Roston Chase

Rahkeem Cornwall

Shane Dowrich

Chemar Holder

Shai Hope

Alzarri Joseph

Raymon Reifer

Kemar Roach

RESERVE PLAYERS

Sunil Ambris

Joshua Da Silva

Shannon Gabriel

Keon Harding

Kyle Mayers

Preston McSween

Marquino Mindley

Shane Moseley

Anderson Phillip

Oshane Thomas

Jomel Warrican