The Hindu : Simmons in a different role

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 04, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Simmons in a different role

By S. Dinakar

CHENNAI, FEB. 3. The ground was bathed in the kind of sunshine that would put hope in one's heart, but Phil Simmons was not smiling.

The Zimbabwean under-19 side was sliding towards defeat at the hands of the MAC Spin Foundation invitation XI and as the Technical Advisor of the side, Simmons knew he had to sort out a few shortcomings ahead of the under-19 World Cup in Dhaka.

"There is a lot of talent in the side, but the important thing is how they learn the game and how they are able to adapt to the conditions in the sub-continent," he said speaking to The Hindu at the Viveka-SICAL ground here, on Tuesday.

The former West Indian cricketer is happy that the development programme for the black cricketers is progressing well in Zimbabwe. "Quite a few young players are coming through."

A hard-hitting top-order batsman in his playing days, Simmons was also a useful medium-pacer and an athletic fielder, but then his returns in the international arena hardly reflected his ability — 1002 runs in 26 Tests (avg. 22.26) and 3675 runs (avg. 28.93) and 83 wickets in 143 ODIs.

Despite possessing a wide variety of strokes, he faltered while consolidating on starts, and constructing knocks of substance.

Simmons, now 40, admits that the past wasn't always rosy, but is quick to add, "I don't want to dwell on it. I want to contribute in a different way now."

Ask him about West Indies' 0-3 loss at the hands of South Africa in the recent Test series, he does not waste much time with his response. "It's bound to hurt," he says.

Simmons puts the blame on the lack of consistency in the pace bowling attack. "I thought the West Indian batting stood up quite well, but they (the Proteas) were regularly getting 500 runs plus. You have to take 20 wickets to win a Test."

However, he jumps to the defence of fellow Trinidadian Brian Lara, the West Indian skipper. "You see, he can only do so much with the attack he has."

Simmons recalls the exploits of two great pacemen of his time — Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh. "One has over 400 Test wickets, and the other over 500. They contributed so much between them, showed so much commitment. Hopefully, the young pacemen will deliver."

The West Indian believes Lara is the No. 1 batsman in world cricket now. "Ricky Ponting might score heavily, Matthew Hayden might break the world record, but Lara and Sachin Tendulkar are the best. Lara has more match-winning innings than Sachin."

Simmons is an admirer of the Indian batting. "I love V.V.S. (Laxman) and Dravid is so correct technically". But he points out that it is the new-found bite in the bowling department that has enabled India to exceed expectations in Australia.

Simmons reserves his final words for that glorious man in the maroon, the marauding Vivian Richards. "He'll always be Viv. Played with so much pride. Some of West Indies' performance must be hurting him, but I think cricket will survive in the Caribbean."

And then, even as the sunshine gives way to the evening hue, Simmons has words of encouragement for the boys. It could a fresh dawn for Simmons too, in a new role.

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