‘Normal cricket’ to get the Windies over the line

‘Normal cricket’ to get the Windies over the line – Phil Simmons

Written by Paul-Andre Walker. Posted in Windies. | 11 July 2020 | 2767 Views
Tags: Cricket, #Phil Simmons, #Raisethebat Series, England, West Indies

West Indies head coach Phil Simmons believes if the West Indies play their normal cricket, they will take a 1-0 #RaiseTheBat series lead to Old Trafford, Manchester after their fourth-day exploits on Saturday.

The West Indies, leading England by 99 runs at the Ageas Bowl at the beginning of Saturday, were pushed back, as openers Rory Burns, 42, and Dom Sibley, 50, whittled down that lead.

After lunch, things got worse for the West Indies, who had to remain patient as Zak Crawley, 76, and stand-in skipper Ben Stokes, 46, threatened to take the game away from them, pushing England’s lead in the match to 135 before the latter was removed by a fine piece of bowling from Jason Holder.

England then lost five wickets for 35 runs, as Shannon Gabriel, 3-62, and Alzarri Joseph, 2-40, reduced England to 284-8, a lead of 170.

With just two wickets needed on tomorrow’s final day, the West Indies are hoping not to have to chase too many and to be given the time to do it.

“All you can do is get the remaining wickets for as little runs as possible and then bat normally,” said Simmons at the end of day four.

“If we bat for five hours tomorrow to chase 180-190 then it is a normal batting day,” he said.

Simmons is wary of what it may be like batting on a final-day Ageas Bowl pitch though.

All the batsmen have called the pitch ‘dry’, which could make it particularly difficult on the final day of a Test match.

“It’s not a chase where you have to go at the bowling. We hope that in the morning, whatever roller is used, will flatten out the wicket so we can get a good start,” said Simmons.

According to the former West Indies opening batsman-turned-allrounder, the West Indies can take heart from the way they batted in the first innings and that it should give them confidence headed into the final day.

“I think the confidence from the way we batted, the attitude towards batting in the first innings, is going to be a huge plus for us, batting in the second innings. Whether it be 170 or 190 it is going to be the same attitude that you will need to chase it.”