Windies name Test squad, reinstate coach

West Indies have named a 15-man squad led by skipper Jason Holder and reinstated head coach Phil Simmons for next month's three-Test tour of Australia.

Simmons was suspended in September for questioning the continued omissions of all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, saying he was not getting "the best 50-over ODI squad", but has since apologised for criticising team selection.

Eldine Baptiste took over for the tour of Sri Lanka which concludes with a Twenty20 match on Wednesday.

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The West Indies squad for the three-match Commonwealth Bank Test tour - which will see them take on Australia in Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney - is unchanged from the one which toured Sri Lanka last month.

After losing the first Test by an innings and six runs, the Windies came close to an upset win in the second Test after debutant spinner Jomel Warrican put the hosts in a spin, with the tourists ultimately falling 72 runs short.

The left-arm spinner finished with six wickets for the match.

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Warrican celebrates a wicket // Getty Images

It will be Holder's second series as West Indies captain, after the fast bowler replaced Denesh Ramdin as leader for the Sri Lanka tour.

The 24-year-old has just 10 Tests under his belt, but has impressed since taking over as skipper of the one-day international side late last year, leading West Indies to a place in the World Cup quarter-finals in March.

Warrican is one of four players to have played fewer than 10 Tests alongside Rajindra Chandrika, Shane Dowrich and Shai Hope, while Denesh Ramdin (71 Tests), Marlon Samuels (66 Tests) and Darren Bravo (39 Tests) add vital experience to the squad.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said in a statement that Simmons had been reinstated after making a public apology.

"I regret my public outburst during a press conference...and the revelation of the vote that took place at the selection meeting," Simmons said.

"I extend a public apology to all whom I may have offended. I have personally apologised to my fellow selectors and the WICB and now do so again publicly.

"I am looking forward to putting this behind me and doing the job I enjoy with the West Indies' senior men's teams."

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Phil Simmons is returning // Getty Images

Former West Indies Test batsman and Ireland coach took charge in March and led his team to a 1-1 three-Test series draw at home against England in May before suffering a 2-0 series defeat by Australia in the Caribbean in June.

West Indies kick off their tour with a four-day game against a Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane from December 2, before the first Test in Hobart from December 10.

They will also play a two-day tour game in Geelong between the first and second Test, starting on 19th December, ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG on December 26, and Sydney's New Year's Test from January 3.

West Indies Test squad: Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Rajindra Chandrika, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Jomel Warrican

Commonwealth Bank Test Series v West Indies