England vs West Indies: Nkrumah Bonner looks to play it late in England

Bonner, 31, believes the preparations have been going very well since the squad arrived in Manchester three weeks ago.

Middle-order batsman Nkrumah Bonner, on his first Test tour with the West Indies, feels playing the ball late will be the key to success in the three-Test series in England starting next week. The middle-order batsman from Jamaica was speaking on Monday after the opening day of the four-day warm-up match was abandoned due to wet weather.

Representational image. (Getty Images)

Bonner, 31, believes the preparations have been going very well since the squad arrived in Manchester three weeks ago. After the end of the warm-up fixture they will travel to Southampton for the first Test at the Ageas Bowl, starting July 8.

“I played two T20s back in 2011 and 2012, so I have a little bit of a feel for what it’s like at the international level. My first T20 was here in England at the Oval, back when Daren Sammy was captain, so that’s a while ago, bit I know the English conditions and I know to be successful here you have to adapt quickly,” he told ‘westindiescricket.com’. “One of the keys to batting is that you have to play the ball late, it different to what you get back home in the Caribbean.” Bonner acknowledged that the team’s batting will be under scrutiny when the West Indies defend the Wisden Trophy in the three Tests, but is confident they will be able to put up good scores, as they did when they won on home turf last year.