Phil Simmons to be reinstated as West Indies coach
Having being suspended for weeks for being critical of the selectors, Phil Simmons will recommence as a head coach of the West Indies cricket team, NDTV reports.
Simmons was upset that all-rounder Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, considered as Twenty20 specialists, failed to make the West Indies one-day international squad for the ongoing series in Sri Lanka. Citing that, the 53 year-old from Trinidad and Tobago was suspended for saying there was "too much interference from outside" in the selection of the ODI squad.
The report quoted "well-placed sources" within the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) as confirming that Simmons will resume his post as head coach, reports CMC.
The announcement follows a meeting between Simmons and the WICB after his public outburst in which he questioned the make-up of the One-Day International squad. WICB sources were quoted as saying that Simmons was warned about his outburst and was told that comments like those would not be tolerated in the future.
Eldine Baptiste is overseeing the position of a coach for the current series in Sri Lanka, while Simmons is assumed to be given charge to resume before the Test series down under against Australia.
Sri Lanka win a thriller
A quickfire 32-ball 59 from Tillakaratne Dilshan helped Sri Lanka to a tense one-wicket win in a rain-curtailed first one-dayer against West Indies on Sunday.The Lankans looked to be cruising to their target of 163, adjusted by the Duckworth-Lewis method, before off-spinner Sunil Narine struck three times in an over to bring the Caribbeans right back into the first ODI.
The hosts still needed 11 runs when they lost their ninth wicket and it was left to tail-ender Ajantha Mendis to post his highest ODI score of 21 not out to see his team over the line with seven deliveries to spare.
"It was a lucky escape. We made a real mess towards the end," Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis said in the post-match presentation.