Windies to renew rivalry with Aussies

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

West Indies will lock horns with Australia in a Test for the first time in seven years when they travel Down Under for a two-match series in December.

The first Test will bowl off November 30 at Perth with the second Test a historic day/nighter at Adelaide Oval bowling off December 8, the two sides clashing over the storied Frank Worrell Trophy.

Head coach Phil Simmons said the recent Test series win over England had further whetted the Caribbean side’s appetite for the upcoming tour.

“I’ve watched a couple day/night games in Australia and it’s a brilliant atmosphere,” said Simmons.

“We are looking forward to it. It will be a test for us but, after the way we played against England [to win the Richards/Botham Trophy], we are looking forward to that.”

West Indies last clashed with Australia in a three-Test series at the start of 2016, coming away with a 2-0 defeat after losing the first Test in Hobart by 212 runs inside three days, and then going down in the second Test in Melbourne by 177 runs inside four days.

The hosts currently top the International Cricket Council Test team ranking, with West Indies languishing down in eighth.

Before the Australia tour, the Caribbean side are set to host Bangladesh in a two-Test series in Antigua and St Lucia next month.

Meanwhile, Cricket West Indies also announced Monday that the white-ball side will face the Aussies in a two-match T20 International series in October, in preparation for the T20 World Cup in Australia which runs from October 16 to November 13.

Both T20Is will be played at Metricon Stadium in Gold Coast on October 5 and 7.

West Indies beat Australia 4-1 in a five-match T20I series in St Lucia last July.

ITINERARY:

T20I Series

1st T20I: October 5, Gold Coast

2nd T20I: October 7, Gold Coast

1st Test: November 30 to December 4, Perth

2nd Test: December 8-12: Adelaide (day/night)