‘Bayliss has to live with the salute’

West Indies bowler Sheldon Cottrell may have a special salute for England coach Trevor Bayliss when the two sides meet in the World Cup on Friday.

Cottrell, whose flamboyant wicket-taking celebration involves a short march, stand to attention and salute to the pavilion, will meanwhile be doing his best to get on Bayliss’s nerves. The 56-year-old Australian told reporters on Wednesday that the ‘Sheldon Salute’ was enough to annoy anyone over the age of 40 and himself in particular.

West Indies captain Jason Holder was asked on Thursday whether Cottrell had “a nice, special salute” lined up for Bayliss, and he smiled.

“I don’t think it will change, that’s just Sheldon. I guess Trevor will just have learn to accept it,” he replied.

Watching the West Indies batsmen smashing Carribean-born Jofra Archer’s deliveries to the boundary might rank even higher on the satisfaction scale but Holder was keen to put the match into perspective.

“It’s something that has been talked up in the press, in the media, and we are looking forward to the challenge against England,” he said. “I have seen Jofra over the years. He is obviously a Barbadian. He’s grown up in Barbados playing cricket so what I’m seeing of Jofra doesn’t surprise me. He is one of those guys who has always had ability and talent,” added the captain.

“It is just unfortunate how things went in terms of his decision-making but he is a good talent.”

The match, he emphasised, was against England, the pre-tournament favourites, and not just about one man.

Holder said the final team selection would be made on Friday, with all-rounder Andre Russell recovering well from a knee injury after being left out of the rain-abandoned match with South Africa.