PHIL SIMMONS HAS stepped down as coach of the Irish cricket team and will take over the West Indies once the ICC World Cup concludes next weekend.
As reported by The42 on Wednesday, the 51 year-old had been in talks with the Caribbean outfit for a number of days.
Simmons still had six months left on his contract with Cricket Ireland but the lure of taking charge of a team that he graced so often as a player (26 Tests and almost 150 one-day internationals) proved too much.
“It was a very difficult decision to leave, but I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to coach my home team”, said Simmons today.
“They’re going through a difficult period at the moment, but I’m confident I can help to improve their fortunes.”
The West Indies have been without a coach since Ottis Gibson was dismissed at the end of last year and played through the World Cup with Stuart Williams in temporary charge. Ironically, Simmons coached Ireland to a Pool B victory over his new team in their tournament opener.
Simmons was Irish coach for eight years and oversaw 224 matches with his side winning 116 of them. Highlights included victories over England, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and the Windies.
“I’ve had eight wonderful years as Ireland’s head coach, and will always cherish the memories of those great days we’ve shared,” said Simmons.
The players and staff at Cricket Ireland have been simply magnificent. The wins in the World Cups over full members were all special as we showed the world just what Irish cricket is capable of.”
“The Irish and West Indians are very similar in their nature and outlook on life and sport. They welcomed me into their country and I engaged with their sporting heritage and culture and I’m a richer, better person for it.”
There was inevitable praise for Simmons from inside the Irish camp. Captain William Porterfield referred to him as a “towering presence” while Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom gave a detailed summation of Simmons’ effect.
Everyone will miss Phil Simmons. You don’t live in a country for eight years and not leave behind close ties and friendships. His warmth and strength of values endeared him to everyone here while his loyalty is unquestioned, as evident from one of the longest-ever coaching tenures in international cricket.”
“That said, you judge a coach on results. He took over from another much-loved coach in Adi Birrell, who gave Phil big shoes to fill. Over the last eight years, Phil has built upon Adi’s legacy by overseeing our qualification for every major ICC event, identifying our best young talent, developing our players in skill-levels and self-belief, and producing a series of results that means every team in the world takes us seriously.”
“Now our goal is simple, it is to find a replacement for Phil who will take us to our stated vision of playing Test cricket by 2019.”
As reported previously by The42, it’s understood former Ashes and World Twenty20-winning coach Andy Flower could be in the running to replace Simmons.
The other name mentioned is Mark Garaway – a former Hampshire cricketer and a former Cricket Ireland performance director.
