Former West Indies pacer  Curtley  Ambrose  is  questioning  the  decision which  saw the regional squad prepare in Australia ahead of their current tour of New Zealand.

The Windies lost the opening test by an innings and 67 runs, falling for just 134 in their first innings.

Ambrose, questioned the move of going to Australia before going directly to New Zealand given the different climates between the two countries.

Former West Indies captain, Sir Vivian Richards, echoed similar sentiments, adding that the decision to prepare in a climate that differs from the one in New Zealand may have had a negative impact on the players going into the first test.

The Antiguan also predicts that the regional squad will be in for more of an uphill battle without Captain Jason Holder who has been suspended for the next test which starts on Saturday.

Holder has been suspended for one test and fined 60 percent of his match fee, and his team-mates have been fined 30 percent of their match fees, for maintaining a slow over rate during their innings defeat to New Zealand in the first test in wellington.