BASSETERRE (St Kitts), Jan 30: England’s preparations for the opening Test against West Indies next week were spoiled on Thursday, when Lendl Simmons and Adrian Barath plundered hundreds for West Indies ‘A’ on the opening day of their tour match.

England’s bowlers toiled for little reward, as Simmons scored an undefeated 171 and teenaged opener Barath made 131 to lead the ‘A’ Team to 343 for two when bad light stopped play four overs early.

England were left with more questions than answers about their attack, as Simmons and 18-year-old compatriot Barath took advantage of a docile Warner Park pitch.

Simmons, who has played eight One-day Internationals, has repeatedly been overlooked by the West Indies selectors, and the uncapped Barath is an exciting prospect highly regarded by former West Indies batting superstar Brian Lara.

England’s bowlers felt the full weight of their bats when the pair from Trinidad and Tobago put on 262 for the second wicket stand.

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES ‘A’ (1st Innings):

K.O.A. Powell c Bell b Anderson 14

A. Barath c Collingwood b Pietersen 132

L.M.P. Simmons not out 171

S. Chattergoon not out 24

EXTRAS (LB-1, NB-1) 2

TOTAL (for two wkts, 86 overs) 343

FALL OF WKTS: 1-28, 2-290.

TO BAT: B.J. Bess, D.J.G. Sammy, D.C. Thomas, E.J. Powell, G. Wallace, A.S. Jaggernauth, K.R. McClean.

BOWLING (to-date): Anderson 20-2-67-1; Harmison 14-0-61-0; Sidebottom 13-3-40-0; Swann 23-1-97-0; Collingwood 13-2-64-0; Pietersen 3-0-13-1.

ENGLAND: A.J. Strauss, A.N. Cook, I.R. Bell, K.P. Pietersen, P.D. Collingwood, O.A. Shah, M.J. Prior, G.P. Swann, R.J. Sidebottom, S.J. Harmison, J.M. Anderson.

UMPIRES: A.L. Kelly and W. Mitchum. —Agencies