View source for Phil Simmons

{{short description|Former West Indian cricketer and head coach of Bangladesh Cricket Team}}
{{about|the West Indies cricketer|the British Olympic rower|Phil Simmons (rower)}}
{{Distinguish|Phil Simmonds}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox cricketer
|                name = Phil Simmons
|               image = 
|             caption = 
|             country = West Indies
|            fullname = Philip Verant Simmons
|            nickname = 
|          birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|4|18|df=yes}}
|         birth_place = [[Arima]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]]
|            heightft = 
|          heightinch = 
|                role = [[All-rounder|Batting all-rounder]]
|             batting = Right-handed
|             bowling = Right-arm medium
|              family = [[Lendl Simmons]] (nephew)
|       international = true
|   internationalspan = 1987–1999
|       testdebutdate = 11 January
|       testdebutyear = 1988
|    testdebutagainst = India
|             testcap = 191
|        lasttestdate = 17 November
|        lasttestyear = 1997
|     lasttestagainst = Pakistan
|        odidebutdate = 16 October
|        odidebutyear = 1987
|     odidebutagainst = Pakistan
|              odicap = 51
|         lastodidate = 30 May
|         lastodiyear = 1999
|      lastodiagainst = Australia
|            odishirt = 
|               club1 = [[Trinidad and Tobago national cricket team|Trinidad and Tobago]]
|               year1 = 1983–2001
|               club2 = [[Durham County Cricket Club|Durham]]
|               year2 = 1989–1990
|               club3 = [[Border cricket team|Border]]
|               year3 = 1992–1993
|               club4 = [[Leicestershire County Cricket Club|Leicestershire]]
|               year4 = 1994–1998
|               club5 = [[Easterns cricket team|Easterns]]
|               year5 = 1996–2000
|               club6 = [[Wales Minor Counties Cricket Club|Wales Minor Counties]]
|               year6 = 2000–2002 
| coachclub1          = [[Zimbabwe national cricket team|Zimbabwe]]
| coachyear1          = 2004–2005
| coachclub2          = [[Ireland national cricket team|Ireland]]
| coachyear2          = 2007–2015
| coachclub3          = [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]]
| coachyear3          = 2015–2016
| coachclub4          = [[Afghanistan national cricket team|Afghanistan]]
| coachyear4          = 2017–2019
| coachclub5          = [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]]
| coachyear5          = 2019–2022
| coachclub6          = [[Bangladesh national cricket team|Bangladesh]] 
| coachyear6          = 2024–present 
|             columns = 4
|             column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
|            matches1 = 26
|               runs1 = 1,002
|            bat avg1 = 22.26
|           100s/50s1 = 1/4 
|          top score1 = 110
|         deliveries1 = 624
|            wickets1 = 4 
|           bowl avg1 = 64.25
|            fivefor1 = 0
|             tenfor1 = 0
|       best bowling1 = 2/34
|  catches/stumpings1 = 26/–
|             column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
|            matches2 = 143
|               runs2 = 3,675
|            bat avg2 = 28.93
|           100s/50s2 = 5/18
|          top score2 = 122
|         deliveries2 = 2,876
|            wickets2 = 83
|           bowl avg2 = 34.65
|            fivefor2 = 0
|             tenfor2 = 0
|       best bowling2 = 4/3
|  catches/stumpings2 = 55/–
|             column3 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
|            matches3 = 207
|               runs3 = 11,682
|            bat avg3 = 35.61
|           100s/50s3 = 24/65
|          top score3 = 261
|         deliveries3 = 13,196
|            wickets3 = 214
|           bowl avg3 = 28.68
|            fivefor3 = 5
|             tenfor3 = 0
|       best bowling3 = 7/49
|  catches/stumpings3 = 241/–
|             column4 = [[List A cricket|LA]]
|            matches4 = 306
|               runs4 = 8,929
|            bat avg4 = 33.19
|           100s/50s4 = 12/54
|          top score4 = 166[[not out|*]]
|         deliveries4 = 9,616
|            wickets4 = 214
|           bowl avg4 = 34.49
|            fivefor4 = 3
|             tenfor4 = 0
|       best bowling4 = 5/33
|  catches/stumpings4 = 137/–
|                date = 25 March
|                year = 2010
|              source = http://www.cricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/52934.html Cricinfo
}}

'''Philip Verant Simmons''' (born 18 April 1963) is a Trinidadian [[cricket]] coach and former player who is currently a coach of the [[Bangladesh national cricket team]]. He played international cricket for the [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]] from 1987 to 1999 as an [[opening batsman]] and right-arm medium pace bowler. He excelled in the [[One Day International]] (ODI) format and represented the West Indies at three [[Cricket World Cup|World Cup]]s.

After retiring from playing, Simmons spent two periods as head coach of the West Indies (2015–2016 and 2019–2022). He has also spent stints in charge of [[Zimbabwe national cricket team|Zimbabwe]] (2004–2005), [[Ireland cricket team|Ireland]] (2007–2015), and [[Afghanistan national cricket team|Afghanistan]] (2017–2019). During his time with the West Indies, he led the team to victory in the [[2016 T20 World Cup]].

==Early life==
Simmons' first home was in [[Arima|Arima, Trinidad]], a few miles outside [[Port of Spain]]. He lived just two doors down from [[Larry Gomes]], a former [[West Indies cricket team|West Indian]] [[batsman]]. He proved to be adept at a number of sports, but excelled at cricket and was soon playing for the regional side East Zone. He made the leap to represent [[Trinidad and Tobago]] in 1983 with the help and encouragement of [[Rohan Kanhai]], the coach at East Zone.<ref name=Wisden /><ref name=Leicestershire />

==Domestic career==
At the domestic level, Simmons featured for [[Trinidad and Tobago cricket team|Trinidad and Tobago]], English sides [[Durham County Cricket Club|Durham]] and [[Leicestershire County Cricket Club|Leicestershire]], along with South African clubs [[Border cricket team|Border]] and [[Easterns cricket team|Easterns]].

During the 1996 season with Leicestershire, he marked his debut for the club in scoring 261, his highest score for the club, with 34 fours and four sixes against [[Northamptonshire County Cricket Club|Northamptonshire]]. He went on to accumulate 1,244 runs with 56 wickets and 35 catches, helping his side to win the [[1996 County Championship|County Championship]] for only the second time in their history.<ref name="OTD">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/149597.html |title=The IPL is born |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|date=18 April 2006 |access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref><ref name=Wisden>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154404.html|title=Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1997 Phil Simmons|publisher=[[Wisden]]|website=cricinfo.com}}</ref><ref name=Leicestershire>{{cite web|url=https://www.leicestershireccc.co.uk/news/2020/october/foxes-flashback-phil-simmons.html|title=Foxes Flashback Phil Simmons|publisher=[[Leicestershire County Cricket Club]]|website=leicestershireccc.co.uk}}</ref> Simmons also won the [[Professional Cricketers Association|PCA]] [[PCA Player of the Year awards|Player of the Year award]] in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepca.co.uk/pca-awards/|title=Men's Players of the Year|publisher=[[Professional Cricketers Association]]|website=thepca.co.uk}}</ref>

He was thereafter named as a [[Wisden Cricketers of the Year|Wisden Cricketer of the Year]] in 1997. Simmons later helped Leicestershire to win another [[County Championship]] title in [[1998 County Championship|1998]]. During that campaign he took over the captaincy from [[James Whitaker (cricketer)|James Whitaker]] and [[Chris Lewis (cricketer)|Chris Lewis]]. At the time, Whitaker was ailing with an injury and Lewis was reprimanded for indiscipline. With Simmons at the helm, Leicestershire went on a six-match winning streak and eventually claimed the title with a resounding triumph over [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]] at [[The Oval]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1998/ENG_LOCAL/CC/|title=1998 domestic season County Championship|publisher=[[ESPNCricinfo]]|access-date=21 June 2022}}</ref><ref name=Wisden /><ref name=Leicestershire /> Simmons eventually scored 11,682 runs at an average of 35.61 with 24 hundreds and 65 half centuries as well as 214 wickets picked up at an average of 28.68 with a sum of five 5-wicket hauls in his first-class career.

===Serious injury===
During a 1988 tour match against [[Gloucestershire County Cricket Club|Gloucestershire]] on his [[West Indian cricket team in England in 1988|debut tour of England]], Simmons was struck on the head by a [[Fast bowling|fast ball]] from [[David Lawrence (cricketer)|David Lawrence]] in bad light at [[Bristol]]. His heart stopped and he required emergency surgery at [[Frenchay Hospital]], from which he recovered fully.<ref name="OTD"/>

==International career==
Like many before him, Simmons found the transition to [[Test cricket]] difficult, making only one century in his Test career (110 at Melbourne, during the West Indies' [[West Indian cricket team in Australia in 1992–93|1992–93 tour of Australia]], and finishing his career in 1997 with a batting average of just 22.26 in 26 matches.

Simmons proved more adept at the international [[One Day International|one day game]], playing a total of 143 ODI matches between 1987 and 1999. Starting his ODI career at the [[1987 Cricket World Cup|1987 World Cup]], he made two half-centuries (50 against Pakistan and 89 against Sri Lanka). At the [[1992 Cricket World Cup|1992 edition]], he played four matches including scoring 110 versus Sri Lanka. In December 1992, during the eighth match of the [[1992–93 Australian Tri-Series|World Series Cup]] in Australia, Simmons won the Man of the Match award for his match-winning spell of 10 overs, 8 maidens, 3 runs, 4 wickets, with an economy of 0.30, against Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8531/scorecard/65500/pakistan-vs-west-indies-8th-match-benson-&-hedges-world-series-1992-93|title=Full Scorecard of Pakistan vs West Indies, Australian Tri Series (CB Series), 8th Match – Score Report &#124; ESPNcricinfo.com|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> With this, Simmons holds the world record for most economical bowling performance (in terms of the fewest runs conceded) in an ODI among those who completed their maximum quota of overs (10 overs in a 50-over match).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ask-steven-seven-men-bowled-and-yousuf-s-purple-patch-623464|title=Seven men bowled, and Yousuf's purple patch|date=5 March 2013|access-date=14 September 2021|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> At [[1993–94 Pepsi Champions Trophy|Sharjah's Champions Trophy tri-series]] the following year, he was named player of the series; he scored three half-centuries and a total of 330 runs for the series. At the [[1995–96 Australian Tri-Series]] which also included Sri Lanka, Simmons failed to impress for which he was not selected for the [[1996 Cricket World Cup|1996 World Cup]]. He was, however, recalled prior to the [[1999 Cricket World Cup|1999 edition]], where he played four matches, including his final ODI match, against Australia in [[Old Trafford Cricket Ground|Manchester]].

==Coaching career==
Simmons' playing days came to a close in 2002. He then embarked on a coaching career, firstly working at Zimbabwe's [[Harare]]-based academy. In May 2004, he was appointed Zimbabwe's head coach, replacing Australia's [[Geoff Marsh]]. This came as the team was weakened due to the [[History of cricket#Zimbabwe|mass dismissal]] of several senior players.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/geoff-marsh-to-quit-as-zimbabwe-coach-140965|title=Geoff Marsh to quit as Zimbabwe coach|date=16 May 2004|publisher=[[Cricinfo]]|website=cricinfo.com}}</ref> He found himself having to defend Zimbabwe's [[Test cricket|Test status]] in the midst of a losing streak, which included losses to [[Bangladesh national cricket team|Bangladesh]] and [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]]. Simmons was eventually dismissed by the [[Zimbabwe Cricket Union]] in August 2005.<ref name="OTD"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/simmons-two-tier-tests-won-t-help-us-144590|title=Simmons: 'Two-tier Tests won't help us'|date=15 February 2005|publisher=[[Cricinfo]]|website=cricinfo.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/zimbabwe-prepare-to-fire-simmons-215870|title=Zimbabwe prepare to fire Simmons|date=12 August 2005|publisher=[[Cricinfo]]|website=cricinfo.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/zimbabwe-prepare-to-fire-simmons-215870|title=Farce as Curran replaces Simmons as Zimbabwe coach|date=17 August 2005|publisher=[[Cricinfo]]|website=cricinfo.com}}</ref>

Simmons then succeeded [[Adrian Birrell]] as coach of the [[Ireland national cricket team]] after the [[2007 ICC Cricket World Cup|2007 World Cup]]. During his tenure, Ireland won a number of trophies and qualified for every major ICC event. He also steered them to victories over England at the [[2011 Cricket World Cup|2011 World Cup]], along with the West Indies and Zimbabwe at the [[2015 Cricket World Cup]]. Simmons was at the helm with Ireland for over 224 matches, making him the longest serving coach in international matches.

In March 2015, he accepted an offer to take charge as head coach of his native West Indies. WICB chief executive Michael Muirhead said of his signing, "Phil has a proven ability to develop players, while cultivating great team spirit and a winning culture, we have a number of young, talented players about whom he is excited to be coaching and we believe he is the right fit".

In 2016, he led the West Indies team to a historic second T20 World Cup victory in India. At the time the former top ranking cricket team was in a period of significant struggles, and he was tasked with bringing the team from near the bottom of the top ten rankings and back into prominence.

He was the batting coach for [[Afghanistan national cricket team]] and later on was appointed as the head coach in 2017.<ref name="OTD"/> In June 2019, he was named as the coach of the Brampton Wolves franchise team for the [[2019 Global T20 Canada]] tournament.<ref name="CIJune19">{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27016556/toronto-nationals-sign-yuvraj-singh-global-t20-canada |title=Toronto Nationals sign up Yuvraj Singh for Global T20 Canada |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=20 June 2019}}</ref> In October 2019, he was reappointed as the head coach of the West Indies team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1452565|title=Phil Simmons appointed as Windies head coach|website=icc-cricket.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-15}}</ref>
He resigned after the 2022 t20 World Cup in Australia but coached the team until the conclusion of the recently ended test tour of Australia.

The [[Pakistan Super League]] (PSL) franchise [[Karachi Kings]] appointed him as the team head coach in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Karachi Kings Squad 2024 – KK Team, Captain, Coach complete detail |url=https://sportsfista.com/karachi-kings-squad/ |access-date=11 December 2023 |website=Sportsfista}}</ref> The following year, he was appointed 'specialist coach' of [[Papua New Guinea national cricket team|Papua New Guinea]] ahead of the [[2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup|T20 World Cup]]. He was hired "as a consultant coach" for the tournament as it was to be held in the Caribbean.<ref>{{cite news |title=Phil Simmons joins PNG as 'specialist coach' for T20 World Cup|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/phil-simmons-joins-png-as-specialist-coach-for-2024-t20-world-cup-1434568 |access-date=21 May 2024 |work=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

On 15 October 2024, Simmons was appointed as the coach of the Bangladesh men's national cricket team. He was given a short-term contract that extends until the [[2025 ICC Champions Trophy]]. Simmons replaced [[Chandika Hathurusingha]], who had been suspended due to disciplinary issues.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-10-15 |title=BCB Announces Appointment of Phil Simmons as Head Coach of the National Team |url=https://www.tigercricket.com.bd/detail/bcb-announces-appointment-of-phil-simmons-as-head-coach-of-the-national-team |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Bangladesh Cricket Board |language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life ==

Phil Simmons is a fan of English football club [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/spurs-tv/features/west-indies-pair-bowled-over-at-the-lane/ |title=WEST INDIES PAIR BOWLED OVER AT THE LANE 23 February 2016 – Video – tottenhamhotspur.com |website=tottenhamhotspur.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228080924/http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/spurs-tv/features/west-indies-pair-bowled-over-at-the-lane |archive-date=2016-02-28}}</ref> His nephew [[Lendl Simmons]] is a cricketer who has also featured for the West Indies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/53116.html|title=Lendl Simmons|publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Cricinfo}}

{{PCA Player of the Year}}
{{Afghanistan national cricket team coaches}}
{{Navboxes
|title= West Indies squads
|bg= #951A42
|fg= #FCED00
|bordercolor=#FCED00
|list1=
{{West Indies Squad 1987 Cricket World Cup}}
{{West Indies Squad 1992 Cricket World Cup}}
{{West Indies Squad 1999 Cricket World Cup}}
{{West Indies Squad 2016 ICC World Twenty20}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Ireland squads 
|bg= #169B62
|fg= white
|bordercolor=#000066
|list1=
{{Ireland Squad 2011 Cricket World Cup}}
{{Ireland Squad 2015 Cricket World Cup}}
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{{Afghanistan Squad 2019 Cricket World Cup}}
{{Karachi Kings squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simmons, Phil}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Border cricketers]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 1987 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 1992 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 1999 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Durham cricketers]]
[[Category:Easterns cricketers]]
[[Category:Leicestershire cricketers]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago cricketers]]
[[Category:West Indies One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:West Indies Test cricketers]]
[[Category:Coaches of the West Indies cricket team]]
[[Category:Wisden Cricketers of the Year]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago cricket coaches]]
[[Category:Wales National County cricketers]]
[[Category:Wales National County cricket captains]]
[[Category:Coaches of the Irish national cricket team]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Arima]]
[[Category:Scarborough Festival President's XI cricketers]]
[[Category:Coaches of the Zimbabwe national cricket team]]
[[Category:Coaches of the Afghanistan national cricket team]]
[[Category:Expatriate cricket coaches]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago expatriate sportspeople in Ireland]]
[[Category:Expatriate sportspeople in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Expatriate sportspeople in Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago expatriate cricketers in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate cricketers in South Africa]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago expatriate sportspeople in South Africa]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago expatriate sportspeople in Wales]]
[[Category:Coaches of the Bangladesh national cricket team]]