Phil Simmons Joins PNG Support Staff for T20 World Cup 2024
Veteran Coach’s New Role
Phil Simmons, a veteran cricket coach, has taken on a new role as a specialist coach for the Papua New Guinea (PNG) team at the T20 World Cup 2024. Simmons has a rich coaching history, having guided teams like Zimbabwe, Ireland, West Indies, and Afghanistan. His latest stint sees him assisting PNG’s head coach, Tatenda Taibu, a former Zimbabwe cricketer.
Expertise in Local Conditions
In a pre-match press conference before PNG’s next game against Uganda, Simmons shared how Taibu invited him for his expertise on local conditions. Born in Trinidad, Simmons played for the West Indies for over a decade. Reflecting on his new role, Simmons mentioned, “It started years ago with me coaching Tatenda in Zimbabwe. He thought my experience could add value to the team during this tournament.”
Challenging Conditions
Conditions have been challenging in the World Cup so far, with low-scoring matches and rain affecting games. Simmons’ knowledge is proving valuable for PNG. In their first match, PNG played against the West Indies. Despite a poor start, they managed to post a competitive total of 136, but eventually lost.
Importance of Adaptation
Simmons emphasized the importance of adapting to the conditions. “We’ve been trying to get the team to understand the need for adaptation. It’s not about hitting 170 or more; it’s about assessing the pitch and setting a realistic target,” he said, contrasting the current World Cup with the high-scoring Indian Premier League season.
Tough Group C
PNG is in Group C, known as the ‘Group of Death,’ alongside three Test-playing nations: West Indies, New Zealand, and Afghanistan, as well as Uganda. Despite the tough competition, Simmons remains optimistic. “We’re not looking at it as three top teams and us at the bottom. We need to play our best, aim to win two or three games, and advance to the next round,” he stated.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead to their match against Uganda on June 6 in Guyana, Simmons mentioned, “We made some mistakes against the West Indies and want to correct those. We need to add that extra one or two percent to our game.”
Loyalty to PNG
When asked if he supports West Indies for their third T20 World Cup win, Simmons was clear in his loyalty: “Right now, I want PNG to win the trophy.”(live score cricket ipl)