Phil Simmons has insisted that there is plenty to be positive about in the early stages of his reign as head coach of the West Indies.

A poor batting display on the final day of the second Test condemned the hosts to a nine-wicket defeat against England in Grenada, but Simmons believes that the team have shown what they are capable of producing in glimpses over the first two matches.

"I'm very encouraged by what I've seen," the former Ireland coach told ESPN. "We had two hours of negligence on the last day in Grenada and we lost the game. It was a reckless period. It just needed a couple of guys to bat for another half-hour or so and we would have saved the game.

"I'd like to see us play two or three sessions consistently. We've played well in one, been bad in the next, then come back in the one after that. But we've not played consistently well for three sessions.

"We just need our young players to understand that how they play must be determined by what the teams needs and what the scoreboard reads."

The third Test begins in Bridgetown on Friday, with England needing just a draw to clinch the series.