Windies head coach Phil Simmons impressed with uncapped players

Phil Simmons

North Sound (Antigua), April 13 (IANS) New West Indies head coach Phil Simmons says he is impressed with the growth shown by the two uncapped players selected in the Caribbean cricket side to play England in a three-match Test series starting here on Monday.

Rookie batsman Shai Hope and fellow Barbadian fast bowling all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite were selected in the 14-man squad announced by selectors on Friday, reports CMC.

Hope was the fourth highest run-getter in the WICB Professional Cricket League (PCL), amassing 628 runs from nine matches, which included a score of 211 against Windward Islands Volcanoes.

"I think young Hope is technically sound, to score double hundreds at any level you must be able to bat for a long period of time," said Simmons.

"He showed that in the practice match that he can bat for a long period of time and that's a big thing with young cricketers now. Some of them just want to go out and play shots but he showed that he has the temperament."

Former Ireland coach Simmons was appointed to the vacant position of the West Indies head coach following the conclusion of the cricket World Cup last month.

Brathwaite, 26, has been on the fringe of Test selection for some time having already turned out in the shorter versions for the West Indies.

"Young Brathwaite, he just bowled like a Test bowler, like an international bowler in the practice game and hit his lines and his length and troubled the batsmen right through so good things to be seen," said Simmons.

The former West Indies all-rounder took over the top job last week and says it feels great to be working with the players.

"I'm a proud West Indian and it feels great to be back in the Caribbean working with the West Indies team," he said.

"It has only been a week so far, but I am happy with our preparations and everyone is looking forward to the start of the first Test on Monday."

The three Test matches will be played at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua; Grenada National Stadium; and Kensington Oval in Barbados.