West Indies begin local preparation today at Providence

Tri-Nation series…

The first ODI series in the West Indies since West Indies beat Bangladesh 3-0 in a three match series in Grenada and St Kitts in 2014 bowls off on Friday at the Guyana National Stadium when number three ranked South Africa face West Indies in the opening game of the Tri Nation series which also involves number one ranked ODI team and five times World Cup 50-over Champions Australia.

The first three ODI will be played in Guyana as International cricket returns to this country for the first time since West Indies defeated Pakistan by 37 runs on July 16, 2013.

This is the first time that ODIs will be played under lights at Providence and the first that every game in a home series which culminates with the final on June 26 in Barbados will be played under lights.

Although South Africa played three matches in the 2007 World Cup at Providence Friday will be the first that they face-off with West Indies in Guyana.

The home team will have their first practice session at Providence between 14:00hrs and 17:00 hrs on Tuesday.  The South Africans will have their first training session on Wednesday from 09:00hrs to noon while West Indies will at Providence from 14:00hrs to 17:00hrs.

All matches start at 13:00hrs while the gates at the Stadium will be opened from 11:00hrs. Tickets which cost $2,000 for the Party Stand, $3,000 for the Orange Stand and $4,000 for the Green and Red stands are already on sale in Guyana and on-line for those overseas who are desirous of traveling for the first three ODIs.

Australia have not played in an ODI here in 17 years since their last ODI ended in a controversial tie at Bourda in 1999. Steve Waugh was unbeaten on 72 when the crowd invaded the ground with the Aussies on 173-7 off 30 overs replying the 173-5 off 30 overs in the rain affected contest.

The team from down under will have their first practice session on Thursday June 2 when they train at from 14:00hrs to 17:00hrs at Bourda where tickets for Guyana leg of the series are being sold.

Fans will be able to see the likes of Australia Captain Steve Smith, IPL’s run machine David Warner and the best off-spinner in world Nathan Lyon, South Africa’s Morne Morkel, AB deVillers and Haslim Amla in addition to West Indians Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard at practice.