Published: Nov 29, 2015, 04:19 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 29, 2015, 04:19 PM (IST)
West Indies coach Phil Simmons said he believes his boys can do well against Australia in the upcoming match. The Caribbeans will be up against Cricket Australia XI for a four-day game taking place at Brisbane starting from Wednesday prior to the three-match Commonwealth Bank series against Australia. The preparations for the game and series will include some thorough training sessions at the Bupa National Crciket Centre in Brisbane before the match to enhance the players’ flexibility and potential. Simmons also added the practice in Australia will help them get accustomed to the Australian conditions as they will have to spend a considerate amount of time there and play their best cricket. READ: James Peirson to lead Cricket Australia XI against West Indies
“Today was the first practice and the guys looked as good as you can look after a long flight. 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,” Simmons was quoted saying cricket.com.au on Sunday.
Simmons was one of the members of the West Indies team that toured Australia for a five-match Test series in the summer of 1992-93. The visitors won the series by 2-1 and Simmons would like to see the current team taste success as well. The team is fresh and young with only four of its members having Test match experience, the players being Jerome Taylor, Ramdin, Kemar Roach and Marlon Samuels. These four will surely be the key to success while the others are equally important as per Simmons.
“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. 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,” he stated. READ: Australia vs West Indies 2015-16: Tasmania Premier rejects idea to shift venue of 1st Test
About their strategy, Simmons revealed, “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.”
West Indies will be seen playing the Boxing Day Test in the prestigious Melbourne Cricket Ground for the first time since 2000-01. Talking about it, Simmons expressed, “It is huge as it has been over a decade since we have been granted a chance to play a Boxing Day Test. From my time we looked for 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.”
