Phil Simmons Praises Bangladesh Players After Historic Test Victory Against West Indies

In October, Phil Simmons took over as the interim head coach of Bangladesh, but his initial period with the team wasn’t smooth. After taking charge, Bangladesh lost the home Test series to South Africa. However, Simmons has now tasted his first Test success as head coach, having led Bangladesh to a victory over his home country, the West Indies.

Speaking to broadcasters after the match, Simmons praised the mindset of the players, especially the batsmen, saying,

“I really liked the positive mindset of the batsmen. In the first few matches, their mentality was just to survive. In this Test, by the third day, they were saying, ‘I’ve come here to play.’ I really liked that, and I enjoyed it. I made sure they understood that this is the only way to play from now on. Many young cricketers were waiting for this win. After losing the first match, it’s great to see them come back like this. It’s a fantastic feeling for me.”

One of the new additions to the Test team, Zakir Ali Anik, made his debut against South Africa and has continued to perform consistently. He played a key role in Bangladesh's victory over the West Indies. Speaking about him, Simmons said,

“Zakir has scored fifties in three consecutive Tests. So, he understands his game well. He can dominate against any bowler, and we’ve seen that. What he has gained from here, he should take full advantage of. What has happened now may not happen every time.”

Simmons also expressed his admiration for Mehedi Hasan Miraz, who had to take on the leadership role in a hurry. He’s embraced the responsibility and continues to perform well. Simmons noted,

“I am also impressed with Mehedi. He had to take on the leadership quickly, but he has understood the role and is carrying on. Mehedi and Taijul complement each other very well. Mehedi bowls with a straight line and some power, while Taijul uses more variations. Taijul prefers bowling to the stumps, and he bowls more arm balls than traditional deliveries. It feels like he is improving with every match. In each session, you see new ideas in his bowling.”

In the match against the West Indies, Taijul Islam was named Player of the Match for his five-wicket haul in the second innings. On Taijul’s performance, Simmons said,

“Taijul likes to hit the stumps, so he bowls more arm balls than conventional spinners. It seems like he is getting better with every match. You can see that in every session, there is improvement in his bowling.”