West Indies find positives in CA XI draw

Joshua da Silva top-scored with 105 for West Indies in their run out against a Cricket Australia XI.

Joshua Da Silva has wrapped up West Indies’ on-field preparations for the Frank Worrell Trophy by hitting a century against a Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide.

Five days out from the first Test in the South Australian capital, Da Silva offered the tourists hope on Friday with a fine 105 against an inexperienced attack at Karen Rolton Oval.

Test hopeful Kavem Hodge did his chances of a debut no harm with 99, before being bowled by spinner Doug Warren agonisingly close to reaching three figures.

Hodge was desperately unlucky when a ball spun out of the rough, hit the right-hander’s back leg and bounced onto the stumps.

Justin Greaves hit an unbeaten 41 to go with his first-innings 65, helping the tourists to 5d-315 in their second visit to the middle, and a sizeable lead of 392.

There do, however, remain some concerns for the tourists.

The men likely to bat No.3 and No.4 in Adelaide both failed again, with Kirk McKenzie and Alick Athanaze backing up their first-innings scores of 23 and 0 with nine and 15 respectively.

West Indies need more out of the pair in the two-Test series, given they are likely to field debutants in Hodge and Greaves at No.5 and No.6.

The CA XI were able to hold on for 39 overs to draw the game, which was brought to an end with the hosts at 5-149.

West Indies off-spinning allrounder Kevin Sinclair, famous for his somersault celebrations after wickets, claimed three scalps.

That will help his case for a Test call-up as he battles with Greaves for a spot in the side.

The tourists will have to play at least three debutants at Adelaide Oval, with seven uncapped players in their 15-man squad.

That lack of top-level experience highlights the predicament Test cricket finds itself in, with Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers the latest West Indies players to prioritise Twenty20 leagues over the five-day format.