With the Indian Premier League taking some of West Indies’ star names away from the test arena, the series against England could showcase some new talents for the hosts.

21-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Shai Hope and fast bowler Carlos Brathwaite are included in the squad for the first test that also marks the start of new head coach Phil Simmons’ reign.

Simmons joined the setup after eight years in charge of Ireland to replaced Ottis Gibson.

His first job is to tackle England in a three-match test series during which he says discipline and pride are key for his side.

“It’s been well documented that we’re not in a good place as far as cricket is concerned. We need to get back in that good place,” the 51-year-old said.

“It’s been frustrating to witness West Indies’ decline. It would be for anyone who has represented West Indies. It’s been disappointing to see the way we’ve played.

"But it's something special to coach your own country and once we get to that level of doing everything professionally, I think the talent will come through."

Simmons is no stranger to the West Indies cricket watching public having played 26 Tests and 143 One Day Internationals for the country between 1988 and 1997.

However, he has wasted no time in introducing new talent to the squad, to showcase the players that the country has to offer, including Hope who recently impressed his international coach with a double century in domestic cricket.

"Talent has never been the problem," he said. "There's always been talent coming through. It's what we do with that talent between 18 or 19 and 24 or 25. We've got to address that. That doesn't mean the national team; it means the teams below that.

“I think young Hope is technically sound. To score a double hundred at any level you have to be technically sound.

“He showed in the practice game that he could bat for a longer period of time. That’s the big thing with young cricketers now; some of them just want to go out and play shots. But he showed he had the temperament.

“Braithwaite just bowled like a test bowler in the practice game. His line and length troubles the batsmen.”

Simmons admits that results might not come straight away for his new look young squad, but he hopes supporters won’t judge his progress on the first few series.

“It’s about getting a system in place and making sure it works properly. So it’s not about winning a test series v England or Australia,” he said.

“I was eight years at Ireland and I don’t think everything was finished. It’s about putting a system in place so that, five or ten years from now, we’re back where we want to be and that we stay there.

"The system must last. It has to keep going no matter who comes after me.”

 

Trent Bridge hosts the fourth Royal London One-Day International between England and New Zealand on Wednesday 17 June. Don't miss the chance to watch England seek redemption against the Kiwis and secure your seat now.

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