‘Narine took the game away from SA’

West Indies coach Phil Simmons has heaped praise on spinner Sunil Narine for his determination to get back in the side after being banned for chucking, and said Narine was the key to defeating South Africa in the tri-series opener.
Narine, who had not played fort he Windies since last November, took six wickets as the Proteas crumbled to 188 all out, and the hosts chased the target down with four wickets in hand in Guyana.
Narine's inclusion was controversial, as he'd not played in the domestic 50-over tournament since coming back from changing his action, but Simmons felt the risk had paid off.
The coach said of Narine and Kieron Pollard's inclusions, and subsequent sterling efforts: "They are the two guys who took the game away from South Africa, and it showed that they're very important to our cricket.
"Narine himself, coming back from everything he's been through, to come and perform the way he did today, you have to give him a lot of kudos for his grit and his determination, to come out of where he's been and to come back and perform like this."
He added of the team's overall performance, after being the underdogs to win the game despite playing at home: "Pollard's experience showed there.
"His ability to hit the ball but also his experience to guide young [Darren] Bravo and so on through the end. [It] showed in [South Africa's] innings too, [AB] de Villiers guiding [Rilee] Rossouw.
"And also, I think we came out and [showed] a little bit more grit and a little bit more determination."
Latest
-
News
England’s Dom Bess thinks pitch for Friday’s warm-up won’t be repeated in series
England finally took to the pitch in Hambantota for a low-key workout between Team Root and Team Buttler.
-
News
Proteas name Test squad for Pakistan tour
South Africa have named a 21-man touring party for the two-Test series in Pakistan.
-
News
Smith makes distinction between out of runs and out of form
Steve Smith put paid to the suggestion he was out of form with a fighting hundred against India.
-
News
England warm-up under way in Sri Lanka
The touring squad has returned a second round of clear Covid-19 tests following Moeen Ali’s positive result.
-
News
Jack Leach awaiting Covid vaccine news after ‘scary’ vulnerable classification
The England spinner takes medication for Crohn’s disease, leaving his immune system weakened.
-
News
Jonny Bairstow ready to tap into Jacques Kallis class during Sri Lanka tour
The England batsman is enthused about working with the Proteas great.
-
News
Heather Knight to lead England in ‘historic’ Pakistan tour
England Women will play two T20s and three ODIs in Karachi later this year.
-
News
Claire Polosak makes history as first woman to officiate a men’s Test
Claire Polosak continues to blaze a trail for women in umpiring.
-
News
Pooran insists West Indies will be a T20 World Cup threat
You would be foolish to discount the West Indies in the short format despite their poor run of late.
-
News
Andrew Balbirnie excited about Ireland’s year ahead
Ireland will play seven internationals in January, the same as the whole of 2020.