Five bowlers the way forward, says Simmons

(CMC):

Head coach Phil Simmons says West Indies will persist with their new strategy of a five-pronged attack despite failing to make enough inroads to win last week's opening Test against Sri Lanka.

With the return of former captain Jason Holder, who missed last month's two-Test series in Bangladesh, West Indies opted for four seamers with Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph joining specialist spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, in the hope of further improving the attack's fire power.

According to Simmons, the move also facilitated a higher place in the batting order for Holder, currently the world's leading all-rounder in Tests.

"We're going to look at the areas in which we go up one per cent and try and improve, and one of the areas is to get 20 wickets in the Test match which is why we're playing five out-and-out bowlers," Simmons said looking ahead to the second Test bowling off today.

"I think that's the way we've got to play cricket. Jason is such a top-class all-rounder that we have the ability to do that (play five bowlers). We have the ability more than some sides who are doing it so we because of his all-rounder ability.

"It is something we're trying to make sure that we do now and it gives him (Holder) the opportunity to bat at six regularly, whereas before the complaint was that he was bowling so many overs with four bowlers that he had to push himself down to eight to get some rest."

In Bangladesh, West Indies fielded a four-pronged attack comprising two seamers and two specialist spinners - the latter of whom combined for 24 wickets in the series.