Simmons hopeful for “better batting” as West Indies prep to face India
West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons is hopeful for better batting from the team when they face India today as he reflects on the team’s recent defeat in the same ODI format by Bangladesh.
Coming after a clean sweep by Bangladesh in their last ODI series, Phil Simmons says West Indies are aiming to bounce back with a victory against India in their upcoming ODI matches.
The West Indies have been training in Trinidad over the past few days to face India for three ODIs between July 22-27 at the Queen’s Park Oval.
West Indies Head Coach blames the team’s failures in batting for the loss against Bangladesh but says he expects better batting this time.
“I expect a better batting performance.
“The difference is we got two days’ practice. We practiced yesterday; we got a good session yesterday and a really good session today. We didn’t get any sessions between Dominica and Guyana because, no fault of anyone, the rain stopped us.
While the West Indies are coming off a 3-0 loss by Bangladesh in Guyana, India enters with a triumphant victory over England.
The West Indies have won just four out of 15 games this year. Three of those wins came against the Netherlands and one against Ireland, and they are currently on a six-game losing streak.
Despite struggles with batting, Coach Simmons praised the team’s bowling and fielding, which he states has been improving continuously.
“The bowling and the fielding has been improving daily. We rank ourselves very high right now in the fielding. Yes, people might say we should have gotten more wickets, but we always bowled from the better half of the wicket. The wicket got better every time we fielded because they put the second roller on it.”
West Indies squad:
Nicholas Pooran (Captain), Shai Hope (Vice-Capt), Shamarh Brooks, Keacy Carty, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Jayden Seales.
