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West Indies are gearing up for their forthcoming two-match Test series against Australia, kicking off their serious preparation with a three-day fixture against a Cricket Australia XI at the Karen Rolton Oval. Head coach Andre Coley views this as a valuable opportunity, particularly for the seven uncapped players in the team, to acclimate themselves ahead of the challenging series.
Comparing the current squad to the one that toured Australia for the Test series in 2022, only a handful of players, including skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph, Joshua Da Silva, and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, remain part of the West Indies lineup for the 2023 tour.
Coley acknowledged the absence of key players like Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers, currently engaged in franchise T20 leagues, along with Jayden Seales, sidelined due to a shoulder injury. He highlighted the impact of ongoing white-ball franchise tournaments and injuries on the selection process but affirmed that the selected players merit their positions and view this as an opportunity to showcase their abilities.
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In preparation for the series, West Indies have enlisted the services of former Australian pacer Shaun Tait as an assistant coach. Coley emphasized the importance of adapting to various pitch conditions in Australia, indicating the need to assess and strategize accordingly, considering the distinct characteristics of each pitch.
Regarding the approach towards the upcoming matches, Coley stressed the team’s focus on extracting maximum benefit from the three-day encounter and evaluating the conditions offered. He emphasized a step-by-step approach, intending to address challenges as they unfold, thereby ensuring optimal readiness for the Test matches.
“We’ll tackle the three-day match and get as much as we can from the three-day and from the surface that’s offered, and then when the Test match comes around we’ll deal with that,” concluded Coley, highlighting the team’s adaptive and progressive mindset in preparing for the upcoming series against Australia.
-IANS
