West Indies head coach, Phil Simmons will be focusing on the team structure when they take to the field today for their first warm up match.
Simmons made known his targets, particularly the batting order, during a virtual press conference yesterday.
He revealed that the first warm up will be a mixed clash while the second match will be “more like a First-Class match, XI versus XI.”
According to him, in light of the absence of middle order duo, Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer, the batting structure will looked at.
“I think the three-day game which starts tomorrow [today] and then the four-day game will help us to decide how we structure the batting from that point of view so I there’s possibilities in different directions as you say Jason [Holder] could bat six, [Shane] Dowrich could bat six so we look at the three-day game and the four-day game and then make a decision,” he said.
While the batting order has come under scrutiny, Simmons articulated that, “the batters have looked really well on this. The work they have put in over the last couple of weeks have showed and over the next three days we will see how they put their innings together as for working and the way they looking in the nets they are good.”
The head coach said most of the batsmen are mentally tough.
“Most of the batsmen are seasoned players and mentally they are tough and I think we just need to continue working on our skills because when you look back at Kraigg [Brathwaite] and Roston [Chase] and Shai [Hope] they are mentally tough because they have done it at this level so it is about making sure they are sharp and ready to go in the first game…”
Simmons added, “I think the aim is the same as if you are playing a four-day match against a county, the good thing about it is the quality of bowlers we have here as part of the reserves makes it a worthwhile run over the next three days because you will still have quality bowling on the other end don’t matter which team plays against which.”
The 57-year-old former West Indies all-rounder contended that Holder has an issue with his ankle but seems well having participated in a bowling and batting session yesterday while confirming the entire team is “A-O-K.”
Simmons maintained that the bowling department is the side’s strong suit and would offer more versatility when the teams clash compared to a county match.
“I think from everything we look at over the past two or three days the bowling has been the stronger suit of the game as a Test nation…” he reasoned while noting the top three bowlers in the side, Holder, Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel solidifies his sentiments.
“Well I think the top three speak for themselves. I think Jason is the number one all-rounder in the world, test cricket and Kemar and Shannon Gabriel are high up on the fast bowling list and ICC rankings so that speaks for itself and that shows you there is quality there. I think in this generation they’re up there and are showing the way, the youngsters are eager to learn, there are six or seven youngsters here and in the squad you have Alzarri Joseph and Chemar Holder and I think Alzarri is going to be a big hit on this tour also…,” he said.
While Gabriel is listed in the reserves, Simmons pointed out that after the warm ups it will be decided once he is fit if the squad will be a 15-man squad for the first Test.
West Indies squad: Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich, Chemar Holder, Jason Holder (c), Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach
Reserve players: Sunil Ambris, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Keon Harding, Kyle Mayers, Preston McSween, Marquino Mindley, Shayne Moseley, Anderson Phillip, Oshane Thomas, Jomel Warrican.
