England cricket chief predicts easy victory over West indies

England set to play 3 match Test series against England

London, March 27 (IANS) England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves has described the West Indies Test side as "mediocre", adding there will be "some enquires" if England do not win the upcoming series in the Caribbean. A 20-man West Indies squad has been announced to begin a training camp from April 5 ahead of the first Test in Antigua on April 13, reports CMC.

Graves, who begins his new role on May 15, said the West Indies team would be without some of its leading players who will be plying their trade in the prestigious Indian Premier League (IPL). West Indies opening batsman Chris Gayle has already ruled himself out of the series, and will instead play for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.

"A lot of their stars are going to be playing in the IPL anyway, not in the Tests, so we should win that series," Graves said on Thursday. "If we don't win, I can tell you now there will be some enquiries on why we haven't."

West Indies are going to have a mediocre team: ECB Chairman

England have not played a Test since beating India 3-1 last summer, while the One-Day side had a dismal World Cup, being eliminated at the group stage. West Indies were also knocked out of the World Cup after struggling through to the quarter-finals and are set to play three Test matches against the Englishmen.

"I'd certainly be disappointed if we don't win the West Indies series," Graves said. "Because I am pretty sure the West Indies are going to have a mediocre team."

The West Indies training squad included middle order batsman Darren Bravo who has recovered from the hamstring injury which forced him out of the World Cup after two matches as well as the uncapped quartet of Carlos Brathwaite, fellow fast bowler Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich and fellow wicketkeeper/batsman Shai Hope.

It will be Phil Simmons' first series in charge of West Indies following his appointment as the coach after the World Cup.