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.
However, Simmons said it would be a mistake to write West Indies off based on their current form.
“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 yesterday.
“It might encourage us to do better and push ourselves. It’s good when people do that. England did that at their peril.”
Simmons was making reference to England’s three-Test tour of the Caribbean earlier this year when a senior official of the England and Wales Cricket Board described the West Indies as “mediocre”, ahead of the series.
The incident seemed to motivate West Indies and despite starting as massive underdogs, pulled off an emphatic five-wicket victory inside three days in the third Test in Bridgetown, to steal a 1-1 share of the series.
Since arriving here, West Indies have been written off by local media and several observers but Simmons has reposed confidence in his young players.
