We can beat England
On the eve of the #RaiseTheBat Test series between the visiting Windies team and hosts England, head coach of the regional side Phil Simmons says that his team is of the belief that they can beat their opponents when the first Test bowls off in Southampton tomorrow.
Simmons, speaking via a Zoom press conference from the Ageas Bowl, said he has been impressed with the team’s preparations leading up to the start of the series, and they will be going all out to get themselves out in front, rather than to play catch-up, similar to when the teams last faced each other in the United Kingdom.
EARLY PRESSURE
“We have focused a lot to try and make sure that we don’t go behind like the last series here and have to play catch-up again,” he said. “They have young players that have come in and are hungry. So we have to make sure that we don’t let them get off to that kind of start they want in Test cricket, and we have to make sure we put pressure on them early.”
For Simmons, the key to winning will be to execute all facets of the game properly, and once the team carries out its duties well, the players are confident of a positive result.
“The key for us is that we play proper cricket in the three facets of the game,” Simmons said. “We keep talking about the weakness in our batting and that the bowling has been strong, but I think we must also field well and catch well to give ourselves that chance. Our frame of mind is that we have to play well in all three facets to beat England.”
The Trinidadian also told reporters that conditions have been good in Southampton, and they will have another look at the wicket to determine the composition of the team.
Simmons believes that the players are keyed up for the contest and for international cricket to finally resume after a lengthy lay-off because of the COVID-19 pandemic.