“Tired of one win and struggling for 3 or 4 games”- Coach Simmons
West Indies coach, Phil Simmons
West Indies coach, Phil Simmons

Phil Simmons, the West Indies head coach, wants his team to use the momentum from the historic win in the first Test in order to carve a winning path going forward as they seek to maintain their winning ways with a packed schedule ahead.

West Indies pulled of one of the most thrilling wins in recent years, and arguably the most exciting, alongside the India/Australia Test series.

Staring at defeat before Kyle Mayers slammed a double-century on debut, West Indies sprung an emphatic come-from-behind fight to upset Bangladesh by 3 wickets, chasing 395.

Speaking during Monday’s virtual conference, Simmons said he wants to maintain this winning momentum and confidence as they prepare for the second Test.

“I think that’s what we are searching for right now, more Test wins on the trot. I’m tired of these one wins and then struggling for the next 3 or 4 games. We are trying hard to put things in place so that we don’t go in that direction; we need to improve on some things and continue the intensity in our preparation. We have to make sure we don’t go backwards again”, said the coach. 

While Mayers’ majestic 210 was coupled by some knocks from Josh DaSilva, who made 40-odd runs and fellow debutant, Nkrumah Bonner, who made 86 and shared a record 216-run 4th wicket partnership; the top-order has presented concerns, some of which Simmons hope will be rectified by Wednesday.

“We haven’t had an opening partnership of note. It would be nice to get a big opening partnership to set up how things go with the other batsmen. I think if you continue to look at the past without trying to find solutions for the future, then we have problems”.

Simmons continued, “All that we have done since getting here is to find a way to nullify their potent spin attack, by improving our ability to play spin. We tried to make sure that we were doing the necessary work to win the game”. 

Bangladesh will be keen on leveling the 2-match series when the second Test bowls off but the Trinidadian coach is keeping an eye out for the ‘Tigers’ and is urging his boys to not loosen their grip, but continue working on their areas of improvement and look to seal this series off in grand fashion.

Every time you win, it is more important you look at ways to improve. When a team loses, they will try to improve, so we, as winners, have to do the same”.

“We have to improve in every aspect. We can do better with the ball, by limiting them to 300 instead of 400. There’s more than one thing to improve from Chattogram”, Simmons ended. 

 

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