Support for WI coach Phil Simmons

While the People's Partnership and the People's National Movement continue to throw 'body blows' at each other in the lead-up to the 2015 General Elections in Trinidad and Tobago, on the regional scene an important sporting decision has been taken.

The West Indies Cricket Board has contracted the former hard-hitting Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies batsman Phil Simmons as coach of the West Indies Cricket Team.


This column harshly condemned the treatment which was meted out to Phil Simmons when he was a player with the West Indies Cricket Team. Back then, during the 1990s, a Bajan cricket statistician who some claim to be a cricket analyst and commentator, and Jamaican Michael Holding waged a virtual war against Simmons as a Test batsman.


Amid the fierce criticism of the 'Trini' Simmons, he (Simmons) eventually lost his place on the West Indies team after playing only 26 Test matches.


As it is said, “truth crushed to the ground rises again”. So, it has turned out to be with Phil Simmons. He developed himself as a cricket coach and Ireland, one of the so-called minnows of the cricket world contracted him as cricket coach. He did wonders as a cricket coach for the Irish. During his time as Ireland's coach, Simmons coached them to victories over the 'old enemy' England, the talented Pakistan and recently the West Indies in 500 overs World Cup matches.


Simmons who was once a T&TEC employee climbing light poles, reportedly one day climbed down a pole and told his fellow workers he wanted to play cricket for the West Indies, The story goes on to say that Simmons spent long hours at the Aranguez Savannah honing his batting skills.


Now he has the honour of being the Head Coach of the regional cricket team. Not for one moment, do I believe his task will be an easy one. His first task will be against the mighty England, known for their meticulous planning in the cricket game.


I hope that the new coach will be given some latitude by the Cricket Board to have a big say on who must be included on the West Indies team.


Recently, we saw the spitefulness and gross injustice from Clive Lloyd and his band of selectors in choosing the West Indies team for the Cricket World Cup in Australia/New Zealand. His decision to leave out two of the best limited overs players in the world in Dwayne Bravo and Keiron Pollard was roundly condemned by Chris Gayle and most of the knowledgeable cricketing minds in the world.


Clive Lloyd has therefore continued against West Indies success in both the 1983 and 2015 Cricket World Cup competition. Remember in 1983, when the then mighty West Indies were given a modest 183 runs by India in the final of the World Cup, Lloyd as captain denied Larry Gomes the opportunity to go into bat at his position when many felt that Gomes style of batting was what was needed at the time to guide the West Indies to victory. As Gomes said later on in an interview, “I was padded up to go to the wicket, but the skipper (Lloyd) just walked pass me and went out to bat.”


Then in 2015, Lloyd told the world, that the West Indies selectors of which he is Chairman had selected a young team to prepare for the future.


As one Australian commentator wondered, “how could Lloyd talk about selecting a young team when the average age of the team was the oldest in the tournament?” As the results showed, the Lloyd West Indies team got one of the finest 'cut tails' in the tournament from South Africa and New Zealand.


Therefore, it is the hope of yours truly, that Clive Lloyd must not in any way attempt to impose his failed ideas on our new coach Phil Simmons. The reality of the inter-island rivalry which exists in West Indies cricket will be one of the main problems which the new cricket coach will have to deal with in order to unify and stabilise the Caribbean team. Here is where his main management skills will be most needed.


Also of importance is the need for high class technical skills to be imparted on cricketers throughout the region. There is also need for more competitive cricket in a professional or semi-final form to be played throughout the region. However, to begin with, Coach Simmons must do a critical study of the players now available in a quest to find match winners to form the base of the team.


This idea being touted around which categorises some players as limited overs players and others as test match players should be put to rest. What coach Simmons must look for in players is their technical ability, for example, the batsmen must be able to move their feet, get in line with the ball and play with a straight bat.


The batters must also have the ability to concentrate for long periods and score runs at a fast rate. Batters whose only concern is to 'occupy the crease' with the aim of not getting out and taking a long time to score runs  are not match winners and should not be on the team.


Coach Simmons must also look for genuine fast bowlers who could bowl at speeds ranging from 145 to 150K. The truth is that no batsman likes to face genuine pace. There must also be a search to find the best available spin options in the region and the fielding of the team must be of the highest quality.


As it is said, “catches win matches”, so every member of the team must be able to hold their own as a top class fielder.


In order for a Phil Simmons coached West Indies team to gain success, physical fitness of each player is essential for such success to be achieved. Any individual wishing to play sports at the highest level must recognise the need to get as physically fit as possible.


The history of sport reveals that sportsmen and women who have made it to the top of their game are those who have attained physical fitness at a very high level. Muhammed Ali, arguably 'the greatest' boxer for all time was one who worked extremely hard in reaching top physical shape.
He ran for hours and used an axe to cut down trees to strengthen his shoulders. He spent hours in the boxing gym. So as he said, “When I went into the ring to fight, I felt the sweetness of my training.”


England batsman Geoffery  Boycott would spend many weeks in training before a Test series. Then, there is Kumar Sangakkara the Sri Lankan master batsman whom it is said would spend four hours in the nets in the morning and four hours in the afternoon to get prepared to play cricket matches.


Therefore, Simmons must instil the concept of hard work in training for West Indies Test players. Once this is done, it is my belief there is enough natural talent in the islands of the West Indies for us to have a team which once more can make us proud.
Yours truly will be supporting Phillip 'Pip' Simmons in his new job as West Indies cricket coach.
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