As the West Indies tour of England winds down, head coach Phil Simmons has lauded the efforts of the bowlers for their work over the three-Test series.
Simmons acknowledged their efforts during a virtual press conference yesterday.
He explained “It’s tough, it’s been tough going into this third Test, back-to-back Tests and I am so appreciative, I’m so excited, I’m so everything for the work has put in especially the two quicks that played all three Test matches and have given us everything they have so I will always raise a glass for them and say that they put in all the work.”
Simmons was speaking about the efforts of Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach but did not forget to applaud the efforts of Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Roston Chase and Rahkeem Cornwall as he expressed that it is pleasing to see them giving their all.
“Yes guys are going to go home on empty but that’s what you want at an end of a series. That they have given you all and if all isn’t good enough then you take that and work on how you get better,” he said.
He continued, “It’s been a tremendous effort by all the bowlers especially as I keep saying the two fast bowlers who had to do a lot of work and moreso even Shannon [Gabriel] who came back from an ankle surgery late last year to be here so tremendous accolades for them all.”
Simmons contended tht the tour was a good one so far.
“I think the tour has been very good, I think to win the first Test match and then to be in a position in the second Test match where we should have taken it away from them had we batted out that day but as the saying goes they get stronger because we talk about more experience with [James] Anderson and [Stuart] Broad in the team, it is a big difference, it’s the first time [this series] we’ve seen that.”
Nevertheless, Simmons credited the batsmen for their growth over the series.
“I think the batsmen are thinking a little more Test batting wise than we out there and we not really in the game so we can take a lot from this tour…I think the attitude is different, as we say you are going to get these top bowlers bowling spells and going through teams and I think the attitude I’ve seen, they wanted to bat, they wanted to bat long and it’s a plus for me and I know there is a lot of things we have to go and work on and I don’t think many tours will be as hard as this batting wise but I think there are many things we need to work on but we take away a lot from this tour.”
