Stokes, Holder welcome return of international cricket

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

VIDEO SHOWS: NEWS CONFERENCE WITH ENGLAND CAPTAIN BEN STOKES / WEST INDIES CRICKET CAPTAIN JASON HOLDER / B-ROLL OF STOKES TRAINING

AND WITH ENGLAND BLAZER DURING PHOTO SHOOT

SHOWS:

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, UK (JULY 7, 2020) (ECB - MUST CREDIT ENGLAND AND WALES CRICKET BOARD)

1. ENGLAND CRICKET CAPTAIN, BEN STOKES, POSING FOR PHOTO SHOOT

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CRICKET CAPTAIN, BEN STOKES, SAYING:

"I think it is massive. Not only is cricket back from an international point of view, it is back from a club cricket side as well. I know everybody has been craving this from a players' point of view, but also from a fan and a spectators' point of view, this is a massive occasion tomorrow for a lot of people around England. And we know we have got that responsibility on our shoulders. To go out and do justice for all those people, it sort of creeps back into that question about the crowd before, where we can't use that as an excuse to not feel up for this game. Because we know we have got hundreds of thousands of people following us and wanting us to do well."

3. VARIOUS OF STOKES IN THE NETS (TWO SHOTS)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CRICKET CAPTAIN, BEN STOKES, SAYING, ON BIO-SECURE VENUES:

"Massive. Look there is obviously a lot of rules and regulations that have been put in place for this to happen. We've respected all of them. It is very, very different but over the last two weeks we have been handling that very well as a team and as individuals. Not only have we done a great job, but I feel like the people who have gone out on a limb in terms of the hotel staff to make sure that everything is catered for us. They have also been fantastic and I feel like there has been a lot of respect shown from both sides to making sure that this works. Because you know if you get one thing wrong, you know it might blow this whole getting sport back on to the radar of people further back. So, we are just really great that we have been given this opportunity to get back out on to the field and we are doing everything that we can to make sure that we are not messing it up."

5. STOKES HOLDING CRICKET BAT DURING PHOTO SHOOT

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CRICKET CAPTAIN, BEN STOKES, SAYING, ON SUPPORTING CURRENT FIGHT AGAINST RACISM:

"I feel as a team that we have got an opportunity here to send a real powerful message. I am really excited as an individual and the team is really excited that we are able to be a part of that. Because, I see it as without the diversity that we have shown, as a team over how ever many years and the equality that needs to be given, we might not be World Cup champions, we might not be one of the best test teams in the world."

7. STOKES IN BLAZER FOR PHOTO SHOOT

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENGLAND CRICKET CAPTAIN, BEN STOKES, SAYING, ON TAKING OVER FROM JOE ROOT:

"No, look I said when I first got asked that I am going to be very open to opinions from people and just because Joe is not here, that doesn't mean that I am not going to use him. Joe has always been very open and willing to take advice from players, so I think I will be stupid to go away from that. We have got so much experience in this team that, as I said, it would be silly not to lean on that if I feel like I need some advice."

9. STOKES PUTTING ON CRICKET KIT

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, UK (JULY 7, 2020) (WICB - MUST CREDIT WEST INDIES CRICKET BOARD)

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WEST INDIES CAPTAIN, JASON HOLDER, SAYING:

"I think it is a really positive moment in cricket. I have been watching obviously the football on TV, Formula One is just about to kick back in, there has been a bit of horse racing here and there, golf and it has been different, but I guess after a period of time people will become more accustomed to this new norm. I am sure it won't last forever, but as it relates to the present, I think it is what it is, and we are all just finding ways to cope with it."

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, UK (JULY 7, 2020) (ECB - MUST CREDIT ENGLAND AND WALES CRICKET BOARD)

11. STOKES IN NETS

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, UK (JULY 7, 2020) (WICB - MUST CREDIT WEST INDIES CRICKET BOARD)

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WEST INDIES CAPTAIN, JASON HOLDER, SAYING, ON THE BAN ON USING SALIVA ON THE BALL:

"I think when it comes to the saliva, we will just have to wait and see to be honest. I really cannot say the impact it will have. So it is more of a trial and error in terms of this first test match. I think conditions will definitely have a lot to do with it. I think in the cold you don't really sweat as much as well. So not sure where we will get any moisture to put on the ball to have a good rub."

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, UK (JULY 7, 2020) (ECB - MUST CREDIT ENGLAND AND WALES CRICKET BOARD)

13. STOKES FIELDING

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, UK (JULY 7, 2020) (WICB - MUST CREDIT WEST INDIES CRICKET BOARD)

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WEST INDIES CAPTAIN, JASON HOLDER, SAYING, ON WEST INDIES BEING BETTER AT WHITE BALL CRICKET, RATHER THAN TEST MATCHES:

"I think that is news to me. You would have you probably tell me about the stats. I am sure that if you were to look at this West Indies test team over the last three years, we have had some really good results. We have won series, we have won test matches, we have beaten top sides in the world. I don't know how that is comparison to the white ball format, but this team is really ready for this occasion and they have proven in the past that we can win against top sides and we can beat top sides in series. Again, it is all to play for in this series."

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND, UK (JULY 7, 2020) (ECB - MUST CREDIT ENGLAND AND WALES CRICKET BOARD)

15. STOKES TALKING TO MEMBER OF BACK ROOM STAFF

STORY: Stand-in captain Ben Stokes says he will still turn to regular skipper Joe Root for advice as international cricket makes a return on Wednesday (July 7) as England take on the West Indies.

With Root missing for the birth of his second child, Stokes will get to pit himself against West Indies counterpart and fellow leading all-rounder Jason Holder.

Stokes' first big decision as captain will be to name his team along with coach Chris Silverwood and there are tricky choices to be made with his bowling attack.

James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood are competing for the three pace spots alongside Stokes and offspinner Dom Bess.

The match will take place in a 'bio secure' venue at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton as a result of the coronavirus crisis, with no crowd and a ban on using saliva on the ball.

Both teams have been isolating over the last few weeks, and will continue to do so over the course of the three match series.

West Indies are the underdogs, but could have a battery of fast bowlers to match England, even if their batting looks a little lightweight.

(Production: Iain Axon)