West Indies cricket is in turmoil once again. What a surprise. We have been here before, such developments in the Caribbean now as certain as the changing seasons.
This time, it’s coach Phil Simmons who has been shown the door after what the West Indies Cricket Board called “differences in culture and strategic approach”.
Sound familiar? Last year, Simmons was suspended from his position after publicly complaining about being unable to select the best one-day side due to “outside influence”. The board and coach later reconciled their differences but, as is clear now, it was a temporary resolution.
This year was a watershed moment in West Indies cricket. As Carlos Brathwaite bludgeoned four consecutive sixes off Ben Stokes in the last over of the World T20 final in Kolkata, the Windies wrapped their hands around three major limited-overs titles – the U19 World Cup, the women’s and men’s World T20. It looked like the start of an encouraging chapter for cricket in the country, at least with the white-ball.
Six months on from that incredible night at Eden Gardens, the West Indies management has turned the team upside down. Shortly after the World T20, bowling consultant Curtly Ambrose was given the boot. And ahead of the T20Is against India in Florida last month, World T20 winning captain Darren Sammy was removed from his post, replaced by Brathwaite. A man who made his international debut at the end of last year was given the reins of a team in a constant state of flux.
It doesn’t take a genius to realise that it was another stop gap arrangement from the board, similar to their move appointing Jason Holder as Test skipper. The West Indies team must have become accustomed, to an extent, to such chopping and changing.
Regardless of their familiarity to such upheaval, it is far from an ideal scenario just days ahead of their series against Pakistan. The Windies’ tour of the UAE is an important one, as it will involve their first day/night Test. Also, it will be a major test of their status as the reigning T20 champions, taking on Pakistan in alien conditions.
Granted, Pakistan are not the strongest limited overs side but they have it all to play for, fighting to move up from ninth position in the ICC rankings and ensure automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup. The men in green will be charged up for this series and, unfortunately, the West Indies are unlikely to be at their fighting best given the developments away from the cricket field.
Simmons was turning the West Indies into a competitive limited overs side and enjoyed the confidence of the players. Admittedly, the team has not done well in the Test arena but given the paucity of talented players who are motivated to play Test cricket, that was always going to be a challenge.
More importantly, West Indies captains Holder and Brathwaite don’t have the required level of experience or stature when it comes to leading a side with authority. In such a situation, having a strong coach is even more important. But the WICB feels having cordial relations with management is more important than keeping the team together, united and moving in a forward direction.
Judging by the pace of developments, I feel Simmons would have been shown the door even if the team had shown drastic improvement in the Test arena and looking at the track record of the West Indies board, it was to be expected. They didn’t spare a world-class player like Dwayne Bravo when he led a player revolt over contract issues in 2014. A coach was never going to stand a chance.
It’s unfortunate that Simmons’ tenure has come to such an end and it’s the team that will suffer the most.
