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West Indies have reappointed Phil Simmons as their coach three years after he was originally sacked from the position. Former Windies batsman Simmons enjoyed success during his first spell in charge of the team, leading them to World Twenty20 glory in 2016, although he was relieved of his duties just five months on from that triumph after previously being suspended for questioning the selection process.
However, the 56-year-old has now returned to the role where he succeeds Floyd Reifer, who led the Windies on an interim basis during this year’s World Cup in England. Richard Pybus and Nic Pothas have also had temporary spells in charge of the West Indies over recent months, with Simmons becoming the first permanent coach since Australian Stuart Law left the role in November 2018.
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Simmons will be tasked with trying to improve a Windies side that are struggling in all forms of the game, as they have slipped to eighth in the ICC Test rankings, ninth in the ODI standings and ninth, below Afghanistan, in the T20 rankings.
The former Durham and Leicestershire star certainly has plenty of experience coaching on the international stage, as he helped Ireland qualify for three successive World Cups between 2007-2015, while he also guided Afghanistan to the finals this year.
Cricket West Indies president Ricky Skerritt certainly believes Simmons is the right man to take the team forward and he feels they are now righting the wrongs of his 2016 dismissal. Skerritt said: “Bringing Phil Simmons back is not just righting a past wrong, but I am confident that CWI has chosen the right man for the job at the right time.”
