IND v WI 2019: Indian pace attack make world cricket exciting, says West Indies coach Phil Simmons

India will next play West Indies at home in December.

Indian pacers currently ruling the Test cricket | AP

West Indies head coach Phil Simmons was highly impressed by the evolution of Indian pacers, saying the current Indian pace attack is exciting for the world cricket.

Indian fast bowlers Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav brilliantly dominated the home season, as the Team India registered resounding wins over South Africa and Bangladesh even without their highest-ranked Test and arguably most potent weapon – Jasprit Bumrah.

The cricketer fraternities including Simmons have been going gaga over the Indian pace attack after the trio brilliantly demolished South Africans and the Tigers recently at home.

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Simmons, who was part of the formidable West Indies teams of the late 1980s and early 90s, refused to compare the current Indian pace attack to his country’s then fast-bowling attack, but said India’s pace bowlers performance with Bumrah – who is recovering from injury, was just exciting.

As per reports in ESPNCricinfo, Simmons said: “I can't say how long ago, but when I first came here, you would have Madan Lal opening the bowling. Now you have guys bowling at 90 miles per hour opening and your premier fast bowler (Jasprit Bumrah) was injured for this Test, so you still have him to come back. It's exciting for world cricket.”

He also believes that teams must have proper fast-bowling attack and spinners at their ranks to trouble the current Indian team.

Former Ireland coach continued, “Teams know now that you have to play properly on both sides — you have to have proper fast bowlers and proper spinners to beat India. Fast bowling from anybody is exciting, so it's great to see that happen. Hopefully we can get back our battery of young fast bowlers to the level where we're competing and giving people trouble.”

On India’s historic Day-Night Test against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens, Simmons said: “I did watch the first day. It was exciting to see Eden Gardens full. It's an awesome sight.”

The Windies coach also endorsed Virat Kohli's opinion on how to promote Test cricket, saying: “I think Virat hit the nail on the head when he said we have to promote Test cricket as hard as we promote T20. Even though T20 has more money involved, we have to promote it the same way.”

Simmons signed off by saying, “I think if that's done, we can see a resurgence of big crowds in Test cricket anywhere you go in the world.”

(With ESPNCricinfo Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 27 Nov, 2019

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