{
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    "title": "WICB needs to solve problem of players' absence Says Phil Simmons",
    "lang": "en",
    "series": "83",
    "cup_year": "2015",
    "article_type": "General",
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    "editor1": "<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Melbourne, Dec 25(Cricketnmore)-<\/strong> Head coach Phil Simmons has said the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) needs to find a solution to the problem of regional players opting to play Twenty20s instead of international cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Several players with Test experience are currently campaigning in the Big Bash League T20 Down Under while the West Indies are clashing with Australia in a three-Test series, and Simmons said it was &ldquo;frustrating&rdquo; not having these players available to strengthen the squad,a news agency reported..<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&ldquo;I&rsquo;m totally frustrated,&rdquo; Simmons told media at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&ldquo;It&rsquo;s enjoyable to see (Andre) Russell bowling at 140 clicks and (Dwayne) Bravo hitting three or four sixes and Chris (Gayle) in (playing the Big Bash).&quot;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&ldquo;It is frustrating that we don&rsquo;t have them yet playing in a Test series but it&rsquo;s something that&rsquo;s been going on for a while.&quot;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&ldquo;It&rsquo;s up to our administration and our bosses to find out how is the best way that we can get these guys on the pitch,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gayle, with 103 Tests to his name and an average of 42 runs per innings, has not played the longest format for the Caribbean side in over a year due mainly to injury.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bravo, meanwhile, an energetic all-rounder, played the last of his 40 Tests five years ago and retired from the format earlier this year to focus on limited overs cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russell, an explosive 27-year-old all-rounder, has already said his dodgy knees are unable to hold up to the rigours of the game&rsquo;s longest format.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former Test captain Darren Sammy and Lendl Simmons, also currently playing in the Big Bash, have also both quit Test cricket while leg-spinner Samuel Badree - another T20 star plying his trade Down Under - has never played in a Test.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trinidadian Simmons, who was recently suspended by the WICB for controversially claiming there was &ldquo;outside interference&rdquo; in the selection of the one-day team for the Sri Lanka series last month, said there was much to be learned from the New Zealand example.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&ldquo;It&rsquo;s up to the administration to work out how we get to the stage of, let&rsquo;s say New Zealand, because they have similar things and they are getting all their players to play,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&ldquo;And it&rsquo;s up to our administration and our bosses to find out how is the best way that we can get these guys on the pitch.&rdquo;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The West Indies face Australia in the second Test at the MCG starting Boxing Day (December 26), following their heavy innings and 212-run defeat in the opening Test in Hobart a fortnight ago.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n",
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    "alt_img": "Phil Simmons Image",
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    "seo_title": "WICB needs to solve problem of players' absence Says Phil Simmons",
    "seo_desc": "WICB needs to solve problem of players' absence Says Phil SimmonsMelbourne, Dec 25(Cricketnmore)- Head coach Phil Simmons has said the West Indies Cricket Board",
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    "created": "2015-12-25 16:57:00",
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