Simmons slams pitch at Sir Viv Stadium

NORTH SOUND, Antigua (CMC):

West Indies head coach Phil Simmons says the first Test here against England could have been more competitive with a better pitch, and he is hoping for a better wicket at Kensington Oval when the next match of the Apex Series kicks off in Barbados on Wednesday.

A flat pitch at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium proved to be a major factor in the match which ended in a draw on the final of the opening Test on Saturday as Nkrumah Bonner and Jason Holder worked together to nullify England’s attack.

“It’s disappointing for the fact that the cricket could have been better. Both sides bowled well on the pitch, but I think with a better wicket, we would have a better Test match, a more difficult Test match for either of the sides because the two bowling attacks are good bowling attacks,” he said.

“I’m hoping for a little more in the wicket [in Barbados]. I think it will make for a better Test match. I used to be a batsman, but you can’t let batsmen have it easy all the time, and I think it’s hard for bowlers on wickets like these, so you need an even surface and let us compete.”

The head coach admitted that England, missing the iconic fast-bowling duo of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, who were omitted following the disastrous Ashes Series in which the side went down 4-0, had not made it easy for West Indies.

He reiterated a previous warning that in the absence of the experienced bowlers, younger players were hungry to make their mark and could not be underestimated.

“They’ve come here to play a hard-fought series, and they’ve shown that they’re not going to lie down and give us the series, so it’s good to see the fight from them, and we know that the other two matches are going to be just as hard,” he said.

“It’s good that we ended up being put under pressure in the end there because they’d given themselves a chance with 70 overs to bowl against us, and that’s how you want to finish a Test match – looking to win.”

Simmons spoke highly of Bonner, the eventual Man-of-the-Match, who followed up his first innings 123 with an unbeaten 38 in the Caribbean side’s final session.

Recalling the Jamaican’s scores of 86 and 90 in his debut series in February last year, he said Bonner continued to prove himself.

“He’s getting more and more consistent, and he’s understanding his game more and more, so that’s brilliant for us,” Simmons said.