West Indies head coach Phil Simmons said he’s “tired of such one wins” despite his boys pulled off one of the most memorable chases in the Test cricket history against Bangladesh on Sunday (February 7) in Chattogram, as he seeks consistency from his team in terms of winning matches.
West Indies pulled off a historic 3-wicket win over Bangladesh chasing a 395-run target in the first Test match on the back of debutant Kyle Mayers’ unbeaten 210 off 310 balls to take a 1-0 lead in the ongoing two-match Test series in Bangladesh on Sunday in Chattogram.
Following the remarkable Test match win, Simmons has asked the West Indies team to make sure that they do not go backwards and continue the momentum and build on this memorable win by the young brigade, as they have won just 12 Test matches in the last five years.
According to ESPNCricinfo, Simmons stated: “I am tired of these one wins and then struggling for the next three or four games. We need to improve on some things and continue the intensity in our preparation. We have to make sure we don't go backwards again. We are trying hard to put things in place so that we don't go in that direction.”
On what he would like his young side to improve on, the West Indies coach said: “I think one of the areas of concern is we haven't had an opening partnership of note. It would be nice to get a big opening partnership to set up how things go with the other batsmen. I don't think our spinners were as consistent as they can be.
They bowled well but there's room for improvement in our bowling. I think we 90 percent nailed down how our field placing will be for different batters but we have to be consistent. More than likely, Dhaka is going to spin more than Chattogram.”
Hailing Mayers for his debut heroics, Simmons said: “I think the last time [a West Indies batsman made a double-century on debut] was Lawrence Rowe. It is an amazing feat. It is all right to do it in the first innings, but to have the temperament in taking us to winning the game made it extra special.”
He signed off by saying, “It is in the history books. You don't start from 210, you start from zero. I know people will forget his double-hundred by the time the next Test is finished. You have to start from zero and do everything you did two days before the game.
Most cricketers will know to start over. Sometimes we get into this hype when we have done well. Over the next few days, we have to get back down to earth and know that the game starts from zero again.”
Noteworthy, Bangladesh and West Indies will now lock horns in the second and final Test starting February 11 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
(With ANI Inputs)
