Simmons Stresses Adaptation Over High Scores
Former West Indies coach Phil Simmons, now a specialist coach for Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the ICC T20 World Cup, believes that high scores like those seen in IPL 2024 are unlikely in this tournament. Simmons emphasized the importance of adaptation, noting that teams should aim for more realistic targets based on the pitch conditions.
“We’ve been focusing on adaptation. For instance, we recognized early on that a 170-run target was unachievable, so we aimed for 150 to stay competitive,” said Simmons. “This tournament won’t see IPL-style scores of 250s and 260s. Understanding the game situation is crucial.”
Praising Sese Bau and PNG’s Enthusiasm
Simmons praised Sese Bau for embodying this adaptive approach, which is central to the team’s strategy. Despite a tough loss to co-hosts West Indies on a slow Guyana pitch, Simmons found joy in the PNG team’s enthusiasm and commitment.
“The joy of playing the game and giving everything in practice is what I love to see,” Simmons remarked. “The energy in our first practice session was incredible. The players’ enjoyment of being at the World Cup and representing PNG has been a highlight for me.”
Aiming for Improvement Against Uganda
Ahead of PNG’s Group C clash against Uganda, Simmons noted the team’s determination to correct mistakes from their previous game. “We made a few mistakes against West Indies, and we’re focused on improving. We need to add that extra one or two percent to our game.”
Uganda’s Learning Curve
In contrast, Uganda’s T20 World Cup debut saw a heavy defeat against Afghanistan. Head coach Abhay Sharma attributed this to the team’s inexperience, especially under lights, but expressed optimism for the future.
“Uganda is new to the World Cup, and this is their first experience under lights. We need to be patient. Remember, India struggled in their first World Cup in 1975 but eventually became champions. Uganda could follow a similar path in 15-20 years,” Sharma said.(Dubai7 realmoneygame)