The full reign of West Indies head coach Philip Verant Simmons starts in real earnest next month with the  West Indies tour to Sri Lanka, followed later by another to still wounded Australia which had been so dumfounded and discombobulated by England recently. Recently, Sri Lanka has held its own well against India, another of the “Big Three”. Australia, with retirements and refurbishments after embarrassments in England, will want to show that its last English tour was just a sour blip.

The big WI question would be to ascertain if the WI head coach position is indeed the poisoned chalice as has been suggested by many in the past, some even lamenting that “WI cricketers are un-coachable.” That simply cannot be true.

WI’s team to Sri Lanka has been named, the most obvious change and massive surprise being that recent captain Denesh Ramdin has been demoted to being just player, wicket-keeper and tourist, while Jason Holder, justly, with visages of WI’s future, has been elevated to Test captain.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Croft writes worse than he speaks.

An example, he wonders why Gibson is succcessful with the Brits but not with the WI- making seems like a scientific riddle. Well Crofty, with the Brits he is an employee of the head coach- he is guided and tutored by the head coach, he must get everything past the head coach before going to the players, the head coach preps the players for Gibson. In thsi role he is not a cheif decision maker, he doesn't design strategy, he just executes. In this role his many deficiencies are masked and absorbed by the head coach so the players are not exposed to it- they only get the best of Gibson

With the WI, he was commander and chief- a very different role that requires man management and not just coaching acumen. A job he is not good at.

Under his watch, WI moved from bad to worse and it will take Phil a long time to get back to bad. from worse, before the team gets better.

Example 2:
He calls Holder an astute captain- he hasn't captain the team before, so how do we know he is astute?

He calls Permaul omission unlucky- What has Permaul done to make the test team?

arent we tired of articles like this

In reply to Emir

Gibson is England's bowling coach and the players bowlers gave him much credit for their performances. Rampaul's bowling improved under Gibson as well. While Roach have fallen off somewhat, because of injuries, he was also ranked as a top bowler during Gibson time here. Taylor's bowling have also been pretty good under Gibson. Problem have been the inconsistency in the batting for many a year now. When you are a professional team and have only one batsman consistently above a 40 run ave. you will not be a winning team.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

It is a travesty that Croft continues to be asked never mind paid for his views on west indies cricket or anything for that matter.

Case in point this most recent article in the Guardian.I have wasted 4 mins of my life no ten actually as i read it again to confirm the errant jackassery the article extolled.

This is a man who at the height of Apartheid, threw his hat in with the oppressors for a few dirty pieces of silver and the title of honorary white.

phew!!!

In reply to Emir

Thankfully, this time, Croft spared us-for the first time, at last!-his incessant musings on his incredible career in aviation.!!!