BRISBANE—Head coach Phil Simmons believes that hard work in the build-up to the Test series against Australia will work wonders for West Indies as they seek to break their 17-year win drought, when the three-match rubber bowls off later next month.
The former international all-rounder returned to his role after missing the recent trip to Sri Lanka through suspension and has immediately gotten down to the business of preparing the Caribbean side for the recapture of the Frank Worrell Trophy.
West Indies have not won Down Under since 1997 and have not beaten the Aussies in a Test anywhere in 12 years.
“Today was the first practice and the guys looked as good as you can look after a long flight,” Simmons said yesterday.
“We still have three days practice before the warm-up game and then three more days before the Test match, so I think it is about getting ourselves sharp enough going into the warm-up game and taking the warm-up game as serious as possible and making sure that during the warm-up game we do the things we want to do during the Test match.”
West Indies, who arrived here last week, will have a four-day warm-up match against the Cricket Australia XI, starting Wednesday at the Allan Border Oval in Brisbane.
Simmons expressed confidence that his young team, led by all-rounder Jason Holder, could come up to the mark on foreign soil against their more experienced opponents.
“The new ball is going to be a big thing and as long as we get accustomed to the wickets and batting on the wickets when it comes time to play the long innings, we will be able to do it,” Simmons noted.
The highlight of the tour will be the second Test match at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground which will be the historic Boxing Day Test, one of the iconic features in world sport. West Indies last played in the major event 15 years ago.
The first Test will be in Hobart with the third match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, starting in early January.
“It is huge as it has been over a decade since we have been granted a chance to play a Boxing Day Test match, Simmons said.
“From my time we looked forward to the day because it is a big day and a huge occasion, not only in Melbourne but all over Australia and a lot of cricket teams look forward to when they have the chance.”
He continued: “We will also play the New Year’s Test match which is another big occasion on the cricket calendar, so this is a major tour for West Indies cricket as well as the players here.”
Just four members of young squad – Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor – have played Test cricket in Australia before but Simmons said every member of his touring party would need to step up during the series.
“They are the ones we are banking on to give the knowledge to the younger players that haven’t been here, but I think everyone has to take ownership over the next week so they know what to do when we get into the Test matches,” Simmons pointed out.
“I think the big thing is that we get accustomed to the wickets and get accustomed to the fact that the wickets are going to be good to bat on.”
(CMC)