After failing in their opening warm-up match, the West Indies bowlers will be hoping that the pink ball can provide the tonic for a four-day twilight clash against a strong Prime Minister’s XI ahead of the two-Test series against Australia. . .
It was a worrying start for an inexperienced West Indies, fresh from their first-round exit in the T20 World Cup and who have not played a Test in Australia since January 2016.
They will be hoping to build confidence against a strong Prime Minister’s XI, which has capped Test batsmen Marcus Harris, Matthew Renshaw and Peter Handscomb effectively making up the Australia A team.
The West Indies bowlers will be hoping for a quick adjustment having lost all three of their day-night Tests with the pink ball – the last four years ago. In contrast, the pioneering Aussies have mastered the conditions to play an unblemished record in 10 matches, including six at the Adelaide Oval.
“We have to make sure we bowl the right length with the pink ball, which will be different from the red ball. We have seen with fielding and slip catching that it is much easier to spot.”
West Indies’ bid for a major series upset will begin on November 30 at the Optus Stadium in the first Test played in Perth since the Covid-19 pandemic. The tourists once dominated the nearby WACA Ground in their heyday and can expect similar fast and bouncy conditions on the drop-in wicket at the 60,000-seater Optus Stadium, which has hosted just two Tests. .
“We’ve been successful in Perth for many years. We know it’s a new stadium. The carry of the pitch and the pace … the batsmen can play shots. We’re looking forward to it,” Simmons said, Feb. A memorable magical catch at slip by Curtly Ambrose at the WACA during West Indies’ final Test win in Australia in 1997.
Bad weather has marred Australia’s east coast for much of the opening cricket season, with the West Indies hoping for clear conditions in chilly Canberra for their final warm-up.
“We’d love some sun, haven’t had much since we’ve been here,” Simmons said. “We are looking for a tough game of cricket next week in Perth. It is very important how we bowl and how we are quick as a batsman… that will tell when we are in Perth. How do those go to a Test match.”
