Thursday 9 April 2015 11:47, UK
James Tredwell admits England would have liked to face better opposition after starting their tour of the West Indies with a mismatch in Basseterre.
England lined up only four days of warm-up cricket before the Test series gets under way in Antigua on April 13, with a pair of two-day games against a St Kitts & Nevis Invitation XI.
But while the hosts have been more than welcoming in laying on cheap runs and easy wickets, the first game was hardly ideal preparation for what lies ahead.
The local batting was particularly poor, with scores of 59 all out and 76-7 in a lopsided draw, and England have already taken action to ensure they will get a full 90 overs in the field on Wednesday.
Both sides have agreed that the home team will bat all day, regardless of how many wickets England take, before the arrangement reverses on Thursday.
Kent spinner Tredwell, who took 3-35 in the second innings: "We'd have liked a sterner contest but you play the cards you are dealt and get on with it.
"A little bit of a sterner contest would have been handy, but it's time in the middle for us.
"You don't necessarily want to start the tour with a long day in the dirt early on either.
"The chat about Wednesday was that we would try and bowl for a full day to get the 90 overs in our legs, two or three spells for the bowlers, and bat on the last day for a long time.
"If we spend the whole day in the field it's probably more important than anything else.
"It's really about time in the middle and miles in the legs."
Tredwell appears to be in a head to head battle with Adil Rashid for the spinner's role this month.
Rashid's leg-spin offers greater risk and reward, while Tredwell brings a steadier hand and consistency of performance.
He will hope those qualities stand him in good stead, but was disappointed to be dropped for England's World Cup campaign only a matter of weeks ago.
"I felt I'd play a full part in what was coming up and when that didn't happen I was disappointed. I don't think I'm out of place in saying that," he added.
"Both Adil and I like to put a game on out there and leave it for other people to decide between us.
"But the ball is coming out nicely at the moment and I'm just hankering for the opportunity."
