Work ongoing to correct batsmen’s technical flaws – Simmons
West Indies head coach Phil Simmons working with Jason Holder on a recent tour.
West Indies head coach Phil Simmons working with Jason Holder on a recent tour.

WEST Indies head coach Phil Simmons has assured that management is working to address the technical flaws of the batsmen after another disappointing Test series.
In the two Tests in St Lucia which concluded over the weekend, West Indies batted on four occasions and were unable to surpass 165.

Against the pacey South African seamers, they didn’t seem comfortable with the bodyline attack and as captain Kraigg Brathwaite stated at the post-match press conference, they played at unnecessary balls.
Simmons said they need to do a reflection and keep working to improve in weak areas.

“We all have technical flaws and when we leave a West Indies tour, we always have to go back and work on things. Fortunately, or unfortunately, tours come up quickly these days, so little things that we have to correct, (keep) coming up again and again,” the coach expressed at a virtual media briefing yesterday.

South African bowlers were on the West Indies like a rash during the recently concluded two-Test series.

“I think since I have been here, we have been trying to correct a number of things and we seemed to have corrected it earlier in the year, mainly to spin bowling but we need to do some work on the fast-bowling,” he added.

Jermaine Blackwood’s total aggregate of 88 runs after four innings was the leading run-scorer for the home side in the two Tests.
Roston Chase, who just had three innings due to injury, had the best average of 24.66 and top-score of 62. One other half-century was scored by opener Kieran Powell.

The aforementioned encapsulates the struggle of West Indian batsmen in their home conditions, and also the inconsistency, since a series ago against Sri Lanka they were scoring centuries.
“All we can really do is look back at the way we got out, the way of the dismissals and try to make sure, technically, we work on things. Also, there is the mental aspect of these players and how they come back after this,” the coach contended.

From August 12, they will play Pakistan, who are currently ranked fifth, in two Tests at Sabina Park, Jamaica.
To prepare for those, each of the six regional franchises is expected to have three Four-Day matches within their territory then Cricket West Indies (CWI) should have ‘Best v Best’ Four-Day matches.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.