2024 Richards-Botham Trophy: West Indies and England Clash at Lord’s

The West Indies and England join battle for the 2024 Richards-Botham Trophy on Wednesday 10 July at Lord’s, also set to be the final Test match for another legendary cricketer, England’s James Anderson. West Indies are the current holders, having won in the Caribbean in 2021. Kraigg Brathwaite was the leading run-scorer in that series, with 341 runs in six innings.

On the weekend, the tourists were invited to Buckingham Palace to meet King Charles III, ahead of their three-Test series. His Royal Highness learned a new handshake, deeming it “quite complicated.” He discussed horses briefly with West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite. And he commiserated with the regional ambassadors on the destruction caused in the region by the passage of Hurricane Beryl last week.

Brathwaite, meanwhile, took the opportunity to speak to how the events of last week can be a rallying call for his team. “We were honoured to be invited,” he said. “And it was a great opportunity for the whole team to be here. Hurricane Beryl has been devastating but we want to make West Indians proud and put a smile on their faces during these tough times.”

Brathwaite also pointed out that the West Indies team carries the hopes and dreams of Caribbean people of all ages when it goes out to represent the region.

“I think it’s important for us, we won a game in Australia, and that obviously touched the whole world. And for us playing the sport, it’s important that we always be role models. There are a lot of kids out there that want to aspire, but we have to make them aspire. We’ve got to create the big performances out there, and let the world see, and let them see, like it was for me, because I got to see a lot of the legends growing up, and that inspired me.”

Former Test captain Jason Holder talked up the confidence that the visitors will carry into the series opener, despite not having played this format in several months. A common theme of the lead up to this fixture is the success that the West Indies enjoyed in Australia, and the carryover that the team hopes it will bring to British shores. The 32-year-old, into his 10th year of Test cricket, says the team’s historic victory at the Gabba in January has revived his zeal for the red-ball format.

“It’s important man. I think the guys, you know, took a lot from that Test victory in Australia, obviously. And you know, for the group, we’ve been doing some really positive things over the last couple months, and I think as a young side, you know, the main thing is just to keep learning. It’s something that I stress on within the group to each and every individual, just taking what they can take from each experience and just building on it.