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Windies facing embarrassing loss in Test warm-up

In their only outing before the three-Test series against world number two Australia, the near full-strength Windies were facing an embarrassing innings defeat against a side featuring six first-class debutants and an average age of 21.

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Captain Jason Holder top scored with 65, sharing a 79 run eighth wicket stand with tailender Kemar Roach (36) to help resurrect the innings.

The tourists did well just to make the no name hosts bat again after recovering from 7-97.

Leg-spinner Cameron Boyce took 4-84 to ensure a quick kill on Saturday.

West Indies, which is now in a declining phase, had last claimed a Test victory in Australia in 1997 and will aim to improve that record when they take on second-ranked Australia in the first Test in Hobart on Thursday.

Only rested bowling spearhead Jerome Taylor was missing from the Windies line-up at Allan Border Field.

Jason Holder admitted it would be a “challenge” to inspire his inexperienced line-up ahead of the Bellerive Oval test.

“Obviously we’re going to cop a bit of criticism, we obviously have to improve, there’s no doubt about it. We have to be better, we need to make the most of the next few days and make sure our preparation is very good leading up to the first game”.

The hosts, made up mainly of up-and-coming players that couldn’t make it into their state’s Sheffield Shield team, posted a first innings total of 444 before being bowled out before tea on day three.

“We need to pick ourselves up, look ourselves in the mirror and find something in ourselves”.

The West Indies has not won an overseas Test series against anyone except Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in 20 years.

Holder was one of the few shining lights for the visitors.

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There will be some soul searching ahead for the Windies side as they search for answers to stay in the contest against Steve Smith’s Australians, who last week clinched a 2-0 home series win over New Zealand.

The once-formidable West Indies last won a Test in Australia in 1997