Closed-door matches will give us an edge in England, says WI coach Simmons

West Indies coach Phil Simmons feels playing behind close doors against England will favour visiting side when international cricket resumes next month in a "bio-secure" environment in wake of COVID-19 pandemic. Suspended since March due to deadly virus, international cricket is set to be back when West Indies and England lock horns in a three-match Test series starting July 8 at Southampton.  "I don't kw if it will increase our chances, because both teams are under same umbrella - for want of a better word," Simmons said in a video conference from team's training base here. " nice part for us is that 20,000 Englishmen raving for England, and that crowd support, it's t re for m. So that in a way will help us, so it's good from that point of view."

'Closed-door matches will give us an edge' 

Besides absence of hostile English fans, Simmons said lack of competitive cricket could also hurt hosts in series. 

"...England hasn't come from a tour recently, and we've just been playing cricket at home. Because in a rmal situation we would have been coming from camps and England would have been halfway through ir season and series would have been going on right w. 

"So, I think that is a plus for us, because it evens out things a little bit, with fact y haven't been playing competitive cricket for a while also," he observed.

Having beaten England 2-1 in Caribbean 18 months ago, a tied series would be eugh for West Indies to retain Wisden Trophy.  But Simmons admitted that West Indies would miss services of Shimron Hetmyer, Darren Bravo and Keemo Paul in series after trio decided against travelling to UK for tour amid pandemic.  "Unfortunately a few guys decided t to come but we are here with best squad that we can have here. And from way we've started our work, guys have been putting in, I think we'll be ready and looking to defend our trophy. "...we kw what we'll be missing. But in situations like this we have to work hard with guys who are here and make sure that what we're doing is putting m in a position to fill those two shoes for series," he said. "Hopefully whoever fills shoes can go on and be as great as y want to be." 

Im credits: AP