By George H. Whyte From Caribbean Life

Former West Indies and Trinidad Tobago cricketer Phil Simmons, 51 years old, has received a three-year contract from the West Indies Cricket Board as head coach.

He played 26 Test matches and 143 One-Day Internationals, between 1987 and 1998. He also coached ICC Associate Team Ireland. Simmons said, “West Indies have tremendous history and prestige in the game and I am honored to have been given this opportunity to be head coach.”

PROFESSIONAL APPROACH

Despite the credentials of the head coach, bowling coach and captain, the players on the cricket field will have to see themselves as professionals and act as such.

West Indies performance in this year’s World Cup has been very poor and there should be no excuses for such poor showing. Some of the West Indies players have not stood up to their responsibilities including captain Jason Holder. He lacks experience in leadership and failed to make the necessary changes in the team’s batting and bowling.

Holder must be able to switch the batting around and also make changes to the bowling in order to put pressure on the opposing team.

Dwayne Smith should have been bowling his seamers in the World Cup. Certain recommendations should have been made to Captain Jason Holder for the benefit of the team. Stand-in head coaches must be able to motivate and enhance the performance of their players.

WEST INDIES DOWNFALL

West Indies quick bowler Kemar Roach suffered from injuries in South Africa and that continued into the World Cup. Roach and Jerome Taylor will normally open the West Indies bowling but the pressure fell on Captain Holder to do that task.

Roach’s failure to pick up wickets caused a setback to the West Indies. Andre Russell bowled hard and with some good pace and bounce.

Specialist spinner Sunil Narine who was unable to tour caused more pain for the West Indies.

New Zealand scored 206 runs from their last 15 overs and this shows that the West Indies bowling needs to improve.

IMAGE: Associated Press / Kirsty Wigglesworth, File
Former Ireland coach Phil Simmons looks on during a training session in Bangalore, India. He was recently appointed West Indies head coach

For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbeanlifenews.com/stories/2015/3/2015-03-24-gw-eoc-cl_2015_3.html