A sacking the WICB could have done without

Fri, Sep 16, '16

From September 2015, the term of Phil Simmons as coach of West Indies became a test; a test for the West Indies Cricket Board.
That month, in a television interview, Simmons took the unusual step of complaining about his employers in public. Simmons survived a firing over his claims of "outside interference" in the selection process for the one-day international team to tour Sri Lanka.
But that issue of high controversy became the defining moment of a relationship that changed for the worse; a relationship that again asked questions about the WICB's ability to manage its affairs.
More than many of the WICB's previous appointments, Simmons came in on a wave of optimism powered by much good feeling. Not the greatest of West Indies players himself, he was always respected for his courage and commitment to the cause. His success with Ireland also gave evidence of genuine coaching ability, so his fit for the West Indies cricket team, which he had always served with pride, seemed perfect.
WICB CEO Michael Muirhead certainly seemed to think so back in March 2015 when he hired Simmons out of a field of seven, saying: "Phil has a proven ability to develop players, while cultivating great team spirit and a winning culture. We have a number of young, talented players about whom he is excited to be coaching and we believe he is the right fit."