Phil Simmons to step down as West Indies coach after World Cup Disaster
West Indies head coach Phil Simmons will step down after the forthcoming Test series against Australia, following the team’s catastrophic Twenty20 World Cup performance Cricket West Indies said on Monday.
According to a CWI statement, Simmons will stand down after directing the West Indies’ two-Test series against Australia, which begins on November 30 in Perth.
🚨 JUST IN 🚨
COMMENT BY CWI PRESIDENT RICKY SKERRITT. pic.twitter.com/fYVJSWy0mn— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) October 21, 2022
The news comes on the heels of the West Indies’ humbling first-round relegation from the T20 World Cup, which was completed by Ireland’s nine-wicket thumping in Hobart on Friday. The squad also suffered a humiliating defeat to Scotland.
Simmons stated in a statement provided by the CWI that while the T20 catastrophe had been “disappointing and heart-wrenching,” he had been evaluating his stance for “some time.”
“This is not a hasty decision, but one I’ve been thinking about for a while, and now is the time to make public that I will stand down as West Indies head coach at the conclusion of the Test series against Australia,” Simmons said.
“It is sooner than I had planned for, but I will now concentrate my efforts in Australia on building on the tremendous development the Test squad has achieved,” he continued.
Absolutely gutted..💔 pic.twitter.com/5NKTmJTwAK
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) October 21, 2022
Simmons guided the West Indies to triumph in the 2016 T20 World Cup in India, and he came back as coach in 2019.
CWI President Ricky Skerritt expressed gratitude to Simmons for his effort.
“Phil is a proud West Indian with great principles who has never lacked drive in coaching our younger players both on and off the field,” Skerritt added.
“He contributed vital expertise and stability at a critical moment of transition, including the most difficult environment of the Covid-19 epidemic.”
with your desire to bring success to the west indies cricket team henceforth Cricket West Indies will be missed. You will be missed.I totally respect it and I will continue to back you through the next challenge… Best wishes to you Jenna and the family going forward. pic.twitter.com/kCusGDhkSZ
— Phil Simmons (@Coachsim13) April 25, 2022
Skerritt promised on Saturday to do a “thorough post-mortem” on “all facets” of the World Cup fiasco.
“I am profoundly unhappy with our team’s performance outcome in Australia, and I understand the sense of total dissatisfaction that many people are feeling,” Skerritt stated.
