Windies play warm-up game against New Zealand X1

Christchurch, Nov 26 (IANS/CMC) Some of the players in the West Indies Test team will get a chance to familiarise themselves with conditions in New Zealand when they play a warm-up match, starting here Wednesday.

A section of the squad travelled from India to Christchurch where they have been preparing for the three-match Test series against the Black Caps starting Dec 3 in Dunedin, reports CMC.

The three-day match-up will be against the New Zealand XI at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln.

"The guys have been working hard since we came here and they have been putting in a lot of good work as we prepare for the Test matches. It is cold over here but the guys are focussed on what is required," said West Indies assistant coach Stuart Williams.

"The purpose for the guys coming here from India was to get acclimatised to the foreign conditions and that is exactly what we have done."

Williams has been leading the squad in outdoor sessions for the last week at the Lincoln University, 30 minutes outside of Christchurch.

"We have been training and preparing really well but it is always good to get out in the middle and have a good game," he said.

"As you are aware the One-Day team is over in India playing an intense series and after that the additional players will come over here and join this group that is here."

The players in New Zealand are experienced left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul, off-spinner Shane Shillingford, pacer Shannon Gabriel, left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell, wicket-keeper Chadwick Walton and middle-order batsman Kirk Edwards.

--IANS/CMC

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