DELHI, India, CMC-Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder Lendl Simmons says the presence of cricket legend Brian Lara has raised team morale in the Red Force campaign for the Champions League T20 title in India.
Red Force crushed Chennai Super Kings, one of the tournament favourites, by eight wickets on Wednesday to secure their semi-final spot and finish top of the league.
Simmons, named man-of-the-match for an outstanding all-round performance in the game with bat, ball and in the field, says the team has been benefitting from Lara’s advice.
“When he’s around, the team has a different vibe and everybody buzzes with positivity. When he talks, we all listen,” said Simmons, who top scored with a 41-ball 63 against CSK.
“So far whatever he’s told us have benefitted our team. Although he hasn’t played too much T20 cricket, he helps us a lot in terms of understanding the process of going about your batting”.
Simmons also contributed with the ball by taking two wickets for ten runs in two overs as well as a couple catches including one on the second attempt at long-off to dismiss Super Kings captain MS Dhoni.
The Trinidadians are now preparing to take on Mumbai Indians in the second semi-final, in Delhi on Saturday.
“He reads the game so well and that helps us form our strategies too,” Simmons explained.
“He lets us know when the time is right to attack and when we need to take it easy. We are also learning that art of reading the game from him”.
