T20 International Ireland v West Indies at Sabina Park Phil Simmons Interview

Delighted Ireland Coach Phil Simmons praised Ireland's bowling attack in his sides brilliant victory over the T20 World Champions in their own back yard today. Full of praise for all his bowlers Simmons was particularly pleased with the way George Dockrell and Alex Cusack coped with the conditions. While happy with the run chase, in particular Ed Joyce and Andrew Poynter who had a crucial 58 run partnership, Simmons still sees areas where Ireland can improve as the bid to wrap up a series win against the World Championship at the same venue on Friday.

Philip Spooner:  We're speaking to Phil Simmons, Coach of Ireland who is obviously a happy man with today's victory. Coach coming here before the tournament  in Trinidad, and before this match you said publicly that if any team, you know, takes you for granted, you could pull off a victory, and that's what happened. That's what you did today.

Phil Simmons:   Yeah I think we've had more time to prepare, and we've gotten a little sharper, accustomed to the conditions. We bowled a lot better today than we had done, and fielded a lot better. I don't think the top couple of batters batted as well as they could, but at the end of the day, the bowlers did the job, and we came out victorious.

Philip Spooner:  Young Dockrell again delivering, a bit on his performance today?

Phil Simmons:   Yeah he's been practicing, he's been working hard on certain things. And today he got his pace and his length and things correct. And that's what got the wickets. I think Cusack also, you know, was excellent from the start, and the way Stirling started, so all the bowlers pulled up. But you know it's nice to see `Dock' and `Cusey' back in form.

Philip Spooner:  Ok and then Ed Joyce the experience showing as he managed to bat smartly in the conditions?

Phil Simmons:   Well yeah, that's the thing, we had a partnership there which is what you need in these circumstances. We had a good fifty, fifty something run partnership between him and Poynter, and that's what you need in these circumstances. They must have a partnership to get the scores. So it was good for him to see things home.

Philip Spooner: And beating the West Indies, the World Champions in this format, how big a victory would you say this is in your period of time as Coach of Ireland?

Phil Simmons:   It's a big victory, because we are in the West Indies home town. And to beat the World Champions, it's something that's going to give us a lot of confidence going into the tournament in March. So it's always good for us to beat the full members, especially the better ones. And the West Indies are the top at the T20. So it's great for us, and it will just build our confidence.

Philip Spooner:  And obviously Friday is an opportunity to go on and win the series, so I'm sure you're thinking along those lines?

Phil Simmons:   Yeah you come back Friday and you play again, and you know a few things will have to change with us. A few things will have to be done better, but we come back to win again, and that's how we play the game now.

Philip Spooner:  Ok Coach, thank you.

Phil Simmons:   No problem any time.