Coach of world champions West Indies is hoping for a world class performance from his team as they oppose India in the first of two T20 matches at the Central Broward Regional Park tomorrow at 10am.
Speaking on the eve of the match, Simmons said :"We have a very good team as you know and the boys are all very versed at playing this format. India is always tough opposition and we are looking to go out there and express ourselves and win the matches."
If the West Indies win both matches, they will move to second place on 127 points with a 2-0 win and push India to third place on 124 points.
However, a 2-0 win for India, captain by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will help it join number-one ranked New Zealand on 132 points but the Asian side will be ranked second when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point. In this scenario, the West Indies will slip to fourth position with 118 points, one point behind South Africa. A 1-1 series draw will keep India ahead on 128 points with West Indies on 123 points.
Yesterday, the West Indies trained in the afternoon at the match venue, the Central Broward Regional Park in Fort Lauderdale. Missing from action was key all rounder Andre Russell. The Jamaican dynamite is expected in this morning and will take in a session with the squad this afternoon. Simmons thinks he is key :"Andre is a very good player in this format and once he fires we normally win matches. I look forward to him arriving here and joining the team."
The Trinidadian continued :"We have just three players here who played in the Test match and the transition from Test to T20 will be no issue. We have a number of T20 professionals and they will be ready for action come match time."
He gave new captain Carlos Brathwaite a vote of confidence :"We have a new captain but he has been around and was part of the set-up before. It is just about going out there and continuing the very good work that was done by former captain Darren Sammy."
Indian head coach Anil Kumble notes that the West Indies is a very good team :"They are a quality side and have packed into their unit a number of really talented players. They have shown that they are real powerhouses in this format and we think that they can be a very dangerous outfit at anytime.
"However having said that we have been playing good T20 cricket for the last six months and this makes for an exciting contest. They are the world champions and we want to defeat them at the same time, which will be good for our team. I am working with Dhoni for the first time and really looking forward to a great performance."