By NAN Sports Editor
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Jan. 7, 2022: All hopes are now pinned on West Indies head coach Phil Simmons as the Windies face Ireland tomorrow.
Simmons says he is expecting more energy and enthusiasm from a new-look squad as the team bowled off tomorrow, January 8th.
The Caribbean team has endured a disappointing few months on the back of a disastrous showing at the T20 World Cup, followed by defeats in Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
A few of the team’s most experienced players have retired following a lackluster showing at the World Cup and the team did not select a few other regulars for the tour of Pakistan. Despite a 3-0 T20 series loss in Pakistan, Simmons was encouraged by the team’s fervor.
“The way we started in Pakistan is the way we want to play now, have a lot more energy, more enthusiasm,” Simmons told members of the media earlier this week.
“It’s a young group of guys and we are trying to mould them and get them into a winning frame of mind. We want to win, and we want to do everything that it takes to win,” he added.
The West Indies host Ireland in the three-match CG Insurance One-Day International (ODI) Series and a one-off CG Insurance T20 International (T20I) from January 8 to 16th in Jamaica. The two-time World Champions will then travel to Barbados to face England in five T20Is at Kensington Oval from January 22nd to 30th.
Chris Gayle has been noticeably left out of the Windies-Ireland matches.
Ireland Series at Sabina Park, Jamaica
January 8: 1st CG Insurance ODI (9:30am local time/10:30am Eastern Caribbean)
January 11: 2nd CG Insurance ODI (9:30am local time/10:30am Eastern Caribbean)
January 14: 3rd CG Insurance ODI (9:30am local time/10:30am Eastern Caribbean)
January 16: one-off T20I (4pm local time/5pm Eastern Caribbean)
England Series at Kensington Oval, Barbados
January 22: 1st T20I (4pm local time/3pm Jamaica)
January 23: 2nd T20I (4pm local time/3pm Jamaica)
January 26: 3rd T20I (4pm local time/3pm Jamaica)
January 29: 4th T20I (4pm local time/3pm Jamaica)
January 30: 5th T20I (4pm local time/3pm Jamaica)
