West Indies A replace New Zealand A for England tour

West Indies A will replace their New Zealand counterparts as tourists during the English season.

New Zealand Cricket had requested to postpone their A-team tour which was scheduled to include a triangular tournament with India A and England Lions as well as a number of first-class matches and two Test matches against the India side.

West Indies will now step into their place, which will be a boost to the WICB who are looking to increase the overseas exposure of their younger players and those on the fringes of international selection. They will now take part in the one-day tournament and face India in the two Tests.

The West Indies players are required back in the Caribbean in mid July so the original programme has been altered to include the four-day and three-day matches before the triangular series rather than afterwards.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Under-19s will now visit in place of Australia Under-19s for a tour in July and August which includes two Tests, two Twenty20s and five one-dayers.