In a few weeks, the Windies will take on New Zealand in their second overseas tournament to be played in a ‘biosecure’ environment.

Both teams are set to play three T20I and two Test Matches, respectively.

Coach Simmons arrived with the players a week ago following a 50-hour journey and will all follow a set quarantine protocol before training, and the series gets underway.

Simmons has argued that the key to the team’s success would depend on how quickly players navigated the acclimatization process.

“I think the challenge is about adapting to the environment. New Zealand is different to Australia and they’re close to each other, but New Zealand is different, it’s different to England where we played our last series,”

“So, it’s how we adapt to the atmosphere, to the conditions and everything down here, and in a way, it’s a good thing that we have to be here this early so that guys can get a chance to see what it’s like. We have a couple of practice games before … and I think that’s an important part of the preparation: that we work on things that we’re going to get in this series. We know New Zealand is going to be tough, it’s going to be hard cricket but as long as we get the right preparation over the next four weeks, hopefully, we’ll be ready.”

There are two squads, one for the T20I Series and one for the two ICC World Test Championship matches which follow immediately afterward.

Six reserve players will travel with the Test squad to prepare and ensure replacements are available in case of any injury and, along with other members of the T20I squad, will form an ‘A’ Team to play two four-day matches concurrently with the Test team.

Simmons said already the touring party had been made to feel safe by authorities since their arrival, which augured well for the series.

“It was brilliant to be able to play earlier in the year in the UK and now it’s great again to have the opportunity to come to New Zealand and be invited by New Zealand Cricket and New Zealand government to be here and we’re looking forward to it. It’s been great since we got here. At the airport we were well looked after and things were done as professionally as they can be,” the former West Indies all-rounder added.

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