Viv Richards backs suspended West Indies coach Phil Simmons
Friday 30 October 2015 19:22, UK
Viv Richards has expressed his sympathy towards Phil Simmons and described the West Indies Cricket Board as "rotten".
The WICB last month suspended coach Simmons from the tour of Sri Lanka after he publically criticised selection matters.
Simmons claimed he was blocked from picking all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard for the one-day international leg of the tour, despite receiving support from chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd.
Bravo and Pollard have not played an ODI since last October's controversial series against India when Bravo was captain of the squad which prematurely pulled out of the tour after becoming embroiled in a pay dispute with the WICB.
"I always have a sympathy for any individual who is up against an establishment who have been a little iffy at times," said Richards. "I would have certain sympathies for him."
Simmons took over as coach earlier this year and guided them to a 1-1 draw against England in his first Test series in charge.
He has since seen the West Indies fail to qualify for the Champions Trophy for the first time and although Richards agreed the absence of key players had caused problems, he is wary of highlighting issues with the board as the root of the current malaise.
Richards never lost a Test series as West Indies captain but suggested the dominant team of the 1980s encountered the same sort of off-field problems as the current one.
"When you have a board that have had various issues off the field - it is pretty hard to deal with," he added. "I would have had the same sort of problems. It's just some rotten administration.
"The team that we had then, being a good team on the field and so talented, even though we had those issues off the field, winning I think helped to eradicate all that stuff. That's not happening today.
"People are frustrated. They are the people who remember the wonderful times and they want to rekindle that sort of spirit.
"Seeing some of the things that have played out is frustrating and I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion. But I still believe we can be a united force in order for us to compete, as long as the folks who administer can be united.
"That would send such a huge message which I think would filter, hopefully, to the right places. It is going to take a lot of hard work. There are a lot of decisions that need to be taken, positive decisions."
