Simmons to meet IPL-based quintet

Simmons to meet IPL-based quintet
By COLIN BENJAMIN Thursday, May 21 2015
Newsday


WEST INDIES cricket team coach Phil Simmons stated he will be seeking an audience with Dwayne Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell and Kieron Pollard when they return from the IPL (Indian Premier League), to clarify whether they want to play Test cricket under his coaching tenure.

Since the India tour pull-out last October, Bravo, Simmons and Pollard announced their retirements from First Class cricket for various reasons. Russell had reportedly told chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd before the South Africa tour that he has a bad knee and can only play in the limited-overs format, while Narine’s bowling action troubles has prevented him from representing the West Indies in any format.

However on March 28, Bravo admitted, before he left for the 2015 IPL, that he was considering a Test return.

Speaking in an exclusive interview from Barbados, Simmons clarified his position on the matter on whether the aforementioned players are in his thoughts for the forthcoming Test series versus top world-ranked team Australia.

“Obviously everybody wants to see those guys playing Test cricket for the West Indies because they are certainly good enough to play that format,” said Simmons.

He continued: “I’m not aware of Bravo’s statement, but I haven’t spoken to any of them since I became coach. I hope to sit down with them and discuss my, and the selectors, vision for how we want West Indies to play Test cricket going forward and how they possibly fit into that.”

“I can’t rule anybody in or out of consideration until I do so.”

It has been reported in the Trinidad Guardian and Guyana Times newspapers in recent weeks that Simmons had a meeting with batting great Shivnarine Chanderpaul regarding his future.

Many cricket experts and fans around the region are split on whether the 40-year-old should still be playing for the Windies not considering his recent form versus South Africa and England.

Asked to comment on those reports, Simmons confirmed a meeting took place with the duo, but understandably was guarded on what was discussed with great left-hander, who is just 86 runs shy over overtaking Brian Lara’s record as the highest Test run-scorer in West Indies history.

“I honestly don’t read many papers so I’m not aware of what Caribbean papers have been saying on this topic. Yes I spoke to Shiv and all the players after the England series, but I’m not at liberty to say what was specifically discussed between us.”

Recently, former ICC (International Cricket Council) president Eshan Mani noted his concern on how the IPL is affected West Indies cricket. “It is desperately sad to see that some of the West Indian players prefer to play in the IPL and other T20 leagues around the world rather than for West Indies,” Mani said.

“The ICC should agree with BCCI that any player selected for his country must be released by IPL. If the player refuses to play for his country he should not be selected for IPL either.”

Simmons said West Indies will have to learn from how other countries deal with that matter and cited the example of the New Zealand’s top players arriving late from the IPL for the forthcoming series versus England with no drama.

The 52-year-old Simmons is the first person from Trinidad and Tobago to coach the West Indies since Gus Logie and concluded his thoughts by stating: “I’m pleased to be back home coaching the team. Coaching is what I love doing and I hope to make a difference during my time with the West Indies.”

hahahaha : Trin commess  : wanting to play versus qualifying by Talent to Play  :

Has he spoken to his nephew Lendl about those Naked girl Pictures he distributed ? 

Lendl "play" might be with Bubba in JAIL  :-[

speak to everybody..dats his job.leave out no one...everybody in with a chance.  its time to turn around the wicb and its skunt way with the players

What will he do when they guys choose T20 tourneys over playing for WI?

anand , dem chap will give him a CD : Go Gyal , Go !

see how quick he EXIT de interviews....

LOL. but he do mot want Shiv to continue to break Lara's record

I know that , we all know that ....BUT them chaps dont want to Replace Shiv...

Bravo . he nephew , Gayle , Russel : ALL love the Great Man !!

Phil deh pun he own !

Russel turned down the great Lloyd whom covet him in front of Holder ...

LOL

IF Phil was Smart : he would ask Deonarine to be Shiv replacement !

Fair Talent BUT a politically dynamite correct decision !!

BUT he wont be able to think thru that 

I agree, but we are talking about WI here.