BRISBANE, Australia (CMC) — West Indies head coach Phil Simmons said yesterday he was not too worried by his side's ongoing challenges in the ongoing tour match against Cricket Australia XI, and has warned detractors not to underestimate the Caribbean side in the three-Test series starting next week.

The tourists have been unconvincing over the two days of the four-day match at Allan Border Field, dismissed for 243 in their first innings and then struggling as a youthful CA XI side coasted to 244 for four at the close yesterday.

"That's the thing with young teams, it is easy for people to do that and write off teams. I don't take any notice of it," Simmons told reporters.

"It might encourage us to do better and push ourselves. It's good when people do that. England did that at their peril."

the Jamaica Observer has the full article

see also Aussies opener wary of Roach, Taylor

In reply to Narper
I know he has to say something but I would like to know what he is smoking or sniffing.

In reply to bobby

Phil Simmons is very worried and troubled because he knows very well that his so called test team is not good enough to beat Guyana, let alone Australia. His young players have nothing to worry about but as the coach, his reputation is at stake and by the time this series is over his record as coach will be 1/6, and will not get better anytime soon because I cannot see them beating Zimbabwe or Bangladesh to improve his record. He was wrong to take up that job especially after the dispute with selectors and board.

Well, I am not writing off any Windies team; just writing about this team.

There will be Aussie records galore against this team and, I do not expect most of the Test matches to last more than 3 days.

In reply to bobby

I guess that is the statement WICB approve before hand.

In reply to ProWI
They might if Australia bats first

In reply to Narper

Young is the latest excuse?

our bowlers can put their hands up

In reply to ProWI

If Simmons and his young team succeed in drawing at list one test, he should be promoted to President of the WICB. Not even if it rains for three days will these guys draw a test.

In reply to Narper

Phil - be worried. Very worried.

This is my team, win , lose (most of the time) or draw.

However, I am just a "deluded" fan.

You are the coach!!

First goal is to get the games into day 4.

Now that Starc and Johnson are not there - I think the chances have dramatically increased.

In reply to googley

WRT

In reply to dax

plus that 75 team had talents this team wish they had. Now one can say that some of the players like Richard, Greenidge etc were still young. However, there were also players who were on top of their game like Freddo, Lloyd, Kalli, Rowe, etc!


how can one even think to compare that team with the current talent collection?!!

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com
Ok Phil, your team lost their first practice match by 10 wks before lunch on day 4, thanks to rain.

Here is my team for the first test.
1. K. Brathwaite 2. Bravo 3. Ramdin 4. Samuel, 5. Dowrich, 6. Blackwood 7. C. Brathwaite 8. Holder 9.Taylor 10. Roach 11.Warrican.

I would open with Bravo because with hope or Chandrika opening, neither will survive the first over so we might as well open with Bravo. Warrican instead of Bishoo because Aussies are not comfortable against off spin.

In reply to Narper

LOL

Nothing to worry about
Its all good
Expect big things from the Big Man

In reply to sandisha

I like it . Makes plenty sense to me bro

In reply to sandisha

I'd switch Ramdin and Blackwood maybe..but other than that..makes sense

In reply to DIEHARD
In fact I thought hard about opening with Ramdin but because he is the wicketkeeper, he needs a break especially if windies did not bat first. In his career he has opened once for windies and had a score of I think 35, against SA, and looked very good against Steryn, Ntini, Nel and Kallis. I believe he is more talented than his record shows and maybe he just needs to be put in a position that will challenge him to see himself as a batsman. I like Blackwood in the middle order though.

In reply to Narper