The West Indies coach, Phil Simmons, has hit back at the incoming England and Wales Cricket Board chairman, Colin Graves, after his side levelled the Test series against England in Barbados on Sunday by asking: “How much cricket has he played?”

Graves pre-tour comments that Simmons’ side were “mediocre” and his promise of an inquiry should England fail to win the three-match series created a lingering subplot that inspired the hosts and put undue pressure on the tourists.

Simmons even had a sign with the antagonistic phrase plastered on his side’s dressing room door during the first Test in Antigua and took the chance to return fire after seeing off England in front of a watching Graves in Bridgetown.

“The media and Colin Graves’ statement showed there was an underestimation of what we could do,” said Simmons. “I’ll leave that for him to judge, but as he walked out [of the Kensington Oval] I think he may have seen some signs with the word ‘mediocre’ on them.

“It was [a motivation] on the first occasion in Antigua, but then we took it off the door as it really meant nothing. As one of the guys said, who is he? How much cricket has he played?”

Simmons has made a fine first impression in the job, having started work less than two weeks before the start of the series. Before that he spent seven years with helping Ireland over-perform on the world stage and he has been impressed with the attitude in the camp.

“I’m enjoying my role. It’s about getting us playing Test cricket properly and getting us where we’re supposed to be,” he said. “I’m loving it. Everyone knows we have talent but if you don’t believe you can do things you’re capable of doing, then you’re wasting the talent you have. Belief is a huge thing in our dressing room.

“We’ve had to work hard for four weeks and you saw the determination. This is huge for us. Everyone showed character and that’s the biggest thing I can take form it; massive character coming out at the early stage of my tenure.”