Sport

Woeful Zimbabwe axe Simmons

BULAWAYO, (REUTERS)

ZIMBABWE COACH PHIL SIMMONS was fired after his team's hiding in the Test series against New Zealand was completed in Bulawayo yesterday.

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) confirmed that Simmons will be replaced by Kevin Curran who will take charge until after the two-Test series against India next month.

Former West Indies player Simmons was axed after New Zealand won by an innings and 46 runs, an hour before the scheduled close on the third day to wrap up the series 2-0.

The Black Caps won the first Test by an innings and 294 runs in Harare last Monday.

"Following the poor performance of the national team in the first Test match against New Zealand we did some serious introspection and asked everyone involved with the team to be critical of their part in the heavy defeat," the ZC statement quoted managing director Ozias Bvute as saying.

"We expected a sea change in the second Test match. As custodians of the game on behalf of the nation we cannot but be accountable."

Curran, 45, confirmed his appointment to Reuters earlier yesterday, saying that he had been informed on Tuesday that he would take over the reins.

Organise practice matches

"I want to organise a couple of one-day practice matches, just to get the guys ready for the triangular series," Curran said.

Zimbabwe, New Zealand and India will play in the triangular tournament, with the first match scheduled between Zimbabwe and New Zealand in Bulawayo yesterday.

Simmons was appointed coach in September, 2004, and presided over Test and one-day series losses to Bangladesh in February.

The statement said Simmons had been "re-assigned to other coaching duties within ZC".

Curran played 11 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe as an all rounder, and represented them at the 1983 and 1987 World Cup tournaments.

He also played for English county Gloucestershire.

Curran has held various positions in the Zimbabwe coaching structure, and is currently the director of the national academy and coaches the Zimbabwe A and national under-19 team.