England A tour itinerary announced

England A will tour West Indies next February, playing two unofficial Tests and five one-day matches during their month-long trip.

Making the announcement, Zorol Barthley, the COO of the West Indies cricket Board, said that this was the first of three A-team tours planned in 2006. In May, Sri Lanka A will visit the Caribbean, and in July West Indies A will travel to England. "These tours will be of tremendous benefit to our young players," he said. "They will give promising West Indies players more international exposure and encourage them to push for places in the senior team."

The West Indies A team will be named after the upcoming Carib Beer tournament, which is scheduled for next month. The England A team is expected to be announced following the conclusion of England's tour to Pakistan, at the same time the squads for the England tour to India are announced.

England A in West Indies tour itinerary