Silent treatment: West Indies coach Phil Simmons has barred his players from talking to ABC commentator Fazeer Mohammed. Credit:Michael Steele/Getty Images The irony is that Simmons himself was suspended from his duties - by the West Indies Cricket Board - in September for public comments he made, questioning selections for the one-day leg of their Sri Lanka tour that preceded this series against Australia. A West Indies spokesman declined to comment when approached about the matter by The Tonk. Windies hopefully will fight for a good cause The belated fight shown by the West Indies has almost certainly come too late to save the series but it might help those involved in the McGrath Foundation sleep a bit easier. The Windies' poor performances this summer raised the possibility of an embarrassing scenario: Jane McGrath Day being overshadowed by an early finish. If the Hobart Test is to be replicated in Sydney the Pink Test would finish midway on day three, which would put a dampener on what has been an annual SCG highlight. Let's hope that is not the case though some more fight by the Windies batsmen would not go astray. As for day three not going ahead at all, the chances of that are slim. There's been only one Test finished in two days in Australia - in 1931.

Anyone for coffee? Given Simon Katich's "fake tan" jibe about his old dressing-room sparring partner Michael Clarke the most interesting spot to be at the SCG might well be in the corridor behind the broadcast boxes, high in the Noble Bradman Messenger Stand. Katich, of course, will be offering special comments for the ABC and Clarke, fresh from his bumpy ride on Perpetual Loyal, is expected to make an appearance in the nearby commentary box for Channel Nine. Oh to be a fly on the wall if and when those two duck out for a coffee at the same time. Cricket continues its stand against domestic violence The biggest round of applause at the CA luncheon at the MCG on Monday wasn't for any of the ex-cricketers in the room but for this year's Australian of the Year, Rosie Batty. Cricket has engaged in the campaign against domestic violence, with the Melbourne Stars adopting the Luke Batty Foundation as their official charity partner this month, while the Big Bash itself last week extended its association with the Alannah and Madeline Foundation for three years. The Windies are trying, says Richardson

The West Indies have given the impression they are too cool for school but don't mistake that for a lack of care. That's the view of their team manager Richie Richardson, who was part of the superstar Windies teams of the 1980s and 90s. Those sides were also ultra relaxed, Richardson pointed out, but did not have their attitude criticised because they were winning. "When we were doing well we used to be pretty cool, pretty laid back, pretty lackadaisical," Richardson said on ABC Grandstand. "We were doing well, people saw it as being cool. Now with the same approach, attitude, [people say] they're not interested and stuff like, so we have to be very, very careful, we have to be cognisant of that as well." Richardson believes the players are trying their best but conceded they "could give a bit more at times". Richardson is soon to leave his post to take up a position as an ICC match referee.