West Indies

Phil Simmons

Born: April 18, 1963, Arima, Trinidad

Phil Simmons bio

Philip Verant Simmons, better known as Phil Simmons, is a former explosive cricketer hailing from the West Indies. While his Test record may not fully reflect his true abilities, Simmons had an impactful career filled with memorable performances and significant achievements both as a player and as a coach.

Born in Trinidad, Simmons showed immense talent from a young age and quickly made his mark in the cricketing world. One of his standout moments came during the 1992-93 season when he scored a remarkable Test hundred against tough opposition in Melbourne. Despite this, he struggled to convert his starts into more substantial scores, managing just four fifties in his 26 Test matches, most of which were played as an opener.

Simmons, however, showcased his true potential while playing county cricket for Leicestershire in 1996. He had a phenomenal season, accumulating 1244 runs, taking 56 wickets, and showcasing his exceptional slip fielding skills with 35 catches. His bowling during that season was particularly noteworthy, as he reportedly outpaced the fearsome Devon Malcolm in a head-to-head encounter.

Early in his career, Simmons faced a life-threatening incident when he was struck on the head by a delivery from David Lawrence during the 1988 West Indian tour of England. Despite experiencing cardiac arrest as a result of the blow, he underwent emergency brain surgery and made a remarkable recovery, returning to cricket fully fit.

After hanging up his boots, Simmons transitioned into coaching, initially taking charge of the Zimbabwe national team. While his stint proved challenging, he earned recognition for his coaching skills and signed on as the head coach of Ireland after the 2007 World Cup. During his eight-year tenure, Simmons transformed Ireland into a formidable force, guiding them to memorable victories over cricketing powerhouses like England, West Indies, and Zimbabwe at various World Cup editions.

Simmons’ successful coaching stint with Ireland played a significant role in the country being awarded Test status in 2017. However, he decided to leave the post after the 2015 World Cup to take on the challenge of coaching the West Indies. Unfortunately, his tenure with the West Indies was marred by controversy and a lack of compatibility with the board’s strategic approach. Despite experiencing both success and setbacks, including leading the West Indies to their second World T20 title, Simmons was eventually sacked.

Undeterred, Simmons returned to coaching and played a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket. Initially hired in a consultancy role in early 2017, he later took over as head coach on a permanent basis. His coaching expertise played a crucial part in Afghanistan’s triumph over Ireland in March of that year.

With an impressive track record as both a player and coach, Simmons continues to make important contributions to the development of cricket. His extensive knowledge and experiences have helped teams achieve their goals, including guiding Afghanistan during their quest for qualification in the 2019 World Cup, as well as leading them into Test cricket against India.

Philip Verant Simmons’ cricketing journey has been one of resilience, courage, and determination. From overcoming a near-fatal injury to thriving as a player and coach, Simmons has left an indelible mark on the cricketing world with his exceptional skills and expertise.

Phil Simmons career stats

Batting stats

Batting Matches Innings Nos Runs High score Ave BF SR 100s 50s 4s 6s Ct St
Tests 26 47 2 1002 110 22.26 1933 51.83 1 4 139 4 26 0
T20Is - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ODIs 143 138 11 3675 122 28.93 5407 67.96 5 18 - - 55 0
FC 207 345 17 11682 261 35.61 - - 24 65 - - 241 0
List A 306 296 27 8929 166* 33.19 - - 12 54 - - 137 0
T20s - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Bowling stats

Bowling Matches Innings Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10w
Tests 26 16 624 257 4 2/34 2/57 64.25 2.47 156 0 0 0
T20Is - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ODIs 143 103 3880 2876 83 4/3 4/3 34.65 4.44 46.7 2 0 0
FC 207 - 13196 6138 214 7/49 - 28.68 2.79 61.6 - 5 0
List A 306 - 9616 7381 215 5/33 5/33 34.33 4.6 44.7 3 3 0
T20s - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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