Simmons wanted a four-day tune up

West Indies coach Phil Simmons said he would have preferred his side to play a four-day match in the build-up to the Boxing Day Test against Australia, instead of the two-day game that finished on Sunday.
The Windies, who lost the first Test against the Aussies inside three days, had a 13-day gap between Tests and played a two-day match against a Victorian XI in South Geelong.
The tourists batted on the first day and amassed 303 for eight with Kraigg Brathwaite (78) and Jermaine Blackwood (69) notching up half-centuries.
The home team batted on the second day and made it to 169 for three before rain washed away the final session, robbing the visitors' bowlers of much needed time in the middle.
Simmons told reporters after the game: "I would love it to have been a four-day game. Twelve or something days in between two Test matches with a two-day game is not ideal.
"That's what it's ended up as. I would love to have had a four-day game where we could bowl properly and have a proper game, like we did up in Brisbane (before the first Test). That's what I would have been happy with.
"When I saw the amount of days in between I asked that we have at least a four-day game. When the last MOU (memorandum of understanding) came back it ended up a two-day game. I guess the details of that would have to come from back home."
Following the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, the Windies will play the third and final Test in Sydney starting on 3 January.
Latest
-
News
England quick Saqib Mahmood to miss rest of season with stress fracture of back
The Lancashire fast bowler would have been a certain inclusion in the squad to face New Zealand at Lord’s on June 2.
-
News
England change to continue with new limited-overs coach and revamped Test squad
Things have been moving quickly at the England and Wales Cricket Board with Rob Key.
-
News
On this day in 2010: England beat Australia for Twenty20 World Cup final glory
The Australians had been restricted to just 147 for six from their 20 overs.
-
News
James Anderson removes Joe Root for just four but Yorkshire thwart Lancashire
Harry Brook came to Yorkshire’s rescue to secure a Roses draw.
-
News
Andrew Symonds – the Queensland larrikin known as Roy with explosive batting
The former Australia all-rounder was killed in a car crash at the age of 46.
-
News
Tributes to an ‘extraordinary player and even better human being’ Andrew Symonds
Symonds died aged 46
-
News
Former Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds dies in Queensland car crash
The 46-year-old played over 200 times for Australia across all formats.
-
News
Cricket world reacts to tragic death of ex-Australia player Andrew Symonds
The ‘cult figure’ of the sport was killed in a car-crash on Saturday night.
-
News
Former Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds dies in car crash aged 46
Symonds played 26 Tests and 212 limited-overs internationals for his country.
-
News
Joe Root century checks Lancashire’s victory bid in Roses clash
Jack Leach took an eight-wicket match haul as Somerset claimed victory over neighbours Gloucestershire.