West Indies Need Backing And Encouragement To Get Big Scores In Tests, Says Coach Phil Simmons After Loss To Pakistan

After West Indies lost to Pakistan in the 2^nd Test due to a poor batting show, team coach Phil Simmons said that the players need the encouragement and backing to get big scores in the longest format. Phil Simmons also said the players are working hard to improve their batting in Tests.

Pakistan defeated West Indies in the 2nd and final Test of the series at Sabina Park in Kingston by 109 runs. Against a target of 329 in 2nd innings, the home side West Indies were bowled out for 219 runs. None of the West Indies batsmen managed to hit a fifty during both the innings of the match, with Jason Holder with the highest individual score of 47 runs in the final innings.

West Indies Batters Have To Sit Down And Work Out On Batting: Coach Phil Simmons

While speaking to ESPNcricinfo, the West Indies coach revealed that his players are working hard to improve their batting in Test cricket but they also need encouragement and backing.

“We see that we can bat. We are spending 110 balls for 50 runs but it’s how we read the situation of the game. We might be batting well, like we saw in the first innings then the ball started swinging a little bit more. We’ve got to assess those situations in order for us to get the big scores.

“We’ve seen a more controlled approach to the start of everyone’s innings, but we have to work out how we go from the 40s and 50s to the 100s and 150s”, Phil Simmons said.  

“The Caribbean has to continue backing us. From a point of view that we are seeing improvement in the fact that guys are trying to do the things that are necessary for us to be a better Test batting team.

“The bowling has been exceptional – it carries its weight and pulls the team – but the batters have to sit down and work out how to get to the scores we want to get. We need the backing, the batsmen need the encouragement. We don’t see what’s happening in the background, but they are working hard,” Phil Simmons further added.

Pakistan scored 302-9 (d) in the 1st innings and restricted West Indies to just 150. Later, with 176/6 on board, the Babar Azam-led side set up a target of 329 for the hosts. After clinching victory by 109 runs, the visitors managed to draw the series 1-1. Shahid Afridi was awarded player of the match for scalping 10 wickets in the match. Pakistan lost 1st match by 1 wicket in a thrilling encounter.

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