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Simmons to step down as West Indies coach

By AAP Newswire

Oct 25, 2022

Phil Simmons (l) will step down as head coach of the West Indies. — Phil Simmons (l) will step down as head coach of the West Indies cricket team in December. -AAP Image

Phil Simmons will step down as coach of the West Indies following their early elimination at cricket's T20 World Cup, the team has announced.

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Simmons will leave after the Windies' two-Test series against Australia, which runs from November 30 to December 12.

West Indies lost two of their three group games - against Ireland and Scotland - to miss out on qualifying for the Super 12s stage of the World Cup in Australia.

The Windies made their earliest exit from the global showpiece since the inaugural 2007 tournament in South Africa.

"I acknowledge that it's not just the team that is hurting but the proud nations we represent as well," Simmons said.

"It's disappointing and heart wrenching but we just didn't turn up.Â

"We weren't good enough and we now have to watch a tournament play out without our involvement. It's unfathomable and for that I deeply apologise to our fans and followers."

Simmons took over for his second stint in charge of the West Indies in 2019. In his first, the team won the world T20 title in 2016.

West Indies will face Australia in the first Test in Perth, beginning at the end of November, before travelling to Adelaide for the second match in the series.

- with Reuters

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press