T&T board welcomes Simmons appointment as new Windies head coach

The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (T&TCB) has welcomed the appointment of Phil Simmons as the new head coach of the West Indies cricket team.

The T&TCB said it's confident the former West Indies allrounder will have an impact following the disappointing performance of the regional team at the ongoing World Cup in Australia and New Zealand where they crashed out of the tournament in the quarter-finals, reports CMC.

West Indies crashed out of the World Cup, losing to New Zealand after struggling through to the quarter final round.

"It is clear that he has done his work in helping the overall improvement of Ireland, an associate team," Cricket Operations Officer of the T&TCB Dudnath Ramkessoon said on Thursday.

"We are counting on his wide experience as a Test player and coach to instill the same level of discipline and commitment, and motivate the players as he has done in his assignments with foreign teams."

Simmons, who spent the last eight years in charge of Ireland, was selected from among seven candidates and has been handed a three-year contract.

He brings to the post an international playing career that spanned 12 years and included 26 Tests and 143 One-Day Internationals.

The T&TCB is hoping that the former hard-hitting West Indies and T&T allrounder will revive the flagging fortunes of the regional team at this time.

"The T&T Cricket Board wishes him the best in his future endeavours and look on with the expectation," said Ramkesson.

"Simmons will be able to fulfill his own personal objectives with the team and lift the overall performance of the regional cricketers on the international stage."

West Indies play England in a three-match Test series from April 6 to May 5 and Australia in a two Test series in June.