West Indies coach Phil Simmons bemoaned his batsmen's failure to convert promising starts into major scores during the 113-run defeat by England in the second Test at Old Trafford on Monday, as he warned of possible top-order changes for the series finale.

Whereas England built a first-innings total of 469-9 declared on the back of hundreds from Ben Stokes and Dom Sibley, no West Indies batsman has yet made a century in a three-match campaign now all square at 1-1.

Only opener Kraigg Brathwaite from the tourists' top three has so far passed 28 in either of the first two Tests, with both John Campbell and Shai Hope struggling.

"They haven't fired, so we've got to take that into consideration over the next couple of days," said Simmons, with the third Test set to start at Old Trafford on Friday.

West Indies batsmen Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer both declined invitations to tour England for a series taking place against the backdrop of the global pandemic.

But reserve wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva, who made an unbeaten century in the second intra-squad warm-up match, could now come into consideration, with back-up opener Shayne Moseley another option for the tourists.

Although they hold the Wisden Trophy following a 2-1 success over Joe Root's men in the Caribbean last year, one has to go back to 1988 for the last time the West Indies won a Test series in England.

Much of the focus heading into this tour was on the talented Hope, whose two career Test hundreds both came during the West Indies' shock win over England at Headingley, Root's Yorkshire home ground, three years ago. 

'Big hundreds'

The 26-year-old averages an impressive 52.20 in one-day internationals but that figure plummets to 26.35 in Tests.

"Yes, I am concerned," said former West Indies batsman Simmons when asked about Hope's recent form.

"He's gone four innings without a score (in this series) �? in contrast to how we played over the last five or six months in the other formats, I am concerned now about his form."

Another frustration for Simmons during the second Test was that while Brathwaite (75), Roston Chase (51), Jermaine Blackwood (55) and Shamarh Brooks (68 and 62) all passed fifty, none of them got to three figures.

"We've had five or six fifties and no one has converted to a hundred," said Simmons.

"It's something that we've been talking about a lot, and no one has taken up that opportunity in this game yet again, so it is disappointing.

"I think it's critical that our batsmen carry on and make big hundreds. Our batsmen need to make hundreds because our bowlers have been doing their jobs," he added.

West Indies, however, were looking like they might yet escape with a draw until they were rocked in their first innings by Stuart Broad's three-wicket burst with the new ball.

"For me, we lost control of the game in five or six overs with the new ball yesterday (Sunday) evening in a place where we were in a good position to bat through the day and then some of today and close out the game," said Simmons.

"But the spell from Broad is where I think we lost the game."

West Indies coach Phil Simmons was told Wednesday he was in no danger of losing his job after the Barbados Cricket Association president said the former Test batsman should be sacked for attending his father-in-law's funeral.

Simmons is currently in self-isolation at the team's on-site hotel at Old Trafford ahead of next week's first Test against England at Southampton after being granted a request for compassionate leave before the squad left for Britain.

Simmons temporarily left the West Indies' protective bubble to attend the funeral, which took place in Britain.

Simmons has twice tested negative for the global virus and will rejoin the squad if he's given the all-clear following another test carried out on Wednesday.

But ahead of a Test series taking place against the backdrop of the global pandemic, ESPNCricinfo revealed that BCA chief Conde Riley had written to Cricket West Indies president Ricky Skerritt lamenting an "inconsiderate and reckless" process as he called for Simmons' dismissal.

But Skerritt told a conference call: "I want to assure West Indies cricket fans that Phil Simmons still has the full backing of Cricket West Indies no matter what has been said.

"When all is said and done, Phil's job is not in any way threatened by that letter.

"He went through a very rigorous recruitment process nine months ago and was the best man we could have found for the job. He's still the best man."

Meanwhile Simmons, in his second stint as Windies coach, said: "This has not been an easy time for my family. My wife was very close to her father and his passing has hurt us. There was no question of me not going to the funeral.

"My wife, my daughters and my son needed that support. Family is a huge thing for me.

"It won't disrupt us, it will just make us a little stronger going into the Test series. Our focus is still on the series."

West Indies captain Jason Holder had no qualms over Simmons' brief absence.

"Phil has done what was asked of him and I don't have any issue with it," he said.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lakruwan Wanniarachchi

West Indies coach Phil Simmons is in short-term self-isolation after being allowed to attend the funeral of his father-in-law and has since twice tested negative, team chiefs said Sunday.

Prior to the start of their three-Test tour of England, Simmons had already sought permission to leave the team's bio-secure bubble at Old Trafford in Manchester.

"The entire process of his exit and re-entry to the bio-secure location was approved and managed by the medical teams of Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)," said a statement.

Read | West Indies batsmen must start strongly, says Simmons

Simmons travelled to the small private family cremation and returned on Friday.

"Following his return, Simmons has been in self-isolation away from other members of the squad, exactly as had always been planned. 

"He has so far undergone two COVID-19 tests since Friday �?both of which came back negative.  

"He will have another test on Wednesday before he will re-join the squad as they prepare for the three-match series against England."

The first Test of three against England gets underway in Southampton, another bio-secure location, on July 8.

All matches will be played behind closed doors.

Read | Anderson grateful for West Indies' 'scary' decision to tour England

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Ishara S. Kodikara

West Indies coach Phil Simmons said his batsmen must hit the ground running in England to give their impressive pace attack totals to defend.

The tourists are stepping up their preparations for next month's three-Test series with an informal three-day game between squad members that starts on Tuesday.

That will be followed by an 11 v 11 match, more closely mirroring the conditions of a first-class game, in the run-up to the first Test, which starts in Southampton on July 8.

The West Indies attack features Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel and captain Jason Holder, with Alzarri Joseph -- tipped by Simmons to be a "big hit" -- also in the squad.

But their batsmen have struggled to build big totals in recent years.

Read | Kraigg Brathwaite ready to follow Haynes manual

The West Indies beat England 2-1 in the Caribbean last year but have not won a Test series in England since 1988.

Simmons said the batsmen were showing good form in practice and the training matches would help the West Indies decide how they would structure the team.

"We've had occasions when we've toured and only after the first game we start really playing cricket so it's something we're trying to get out of our system and make sure we're ready to go when we get to Southampton," he said.

"Most of the senior batsmen are seasoned players," he added. "Mentally, I think they're tough. I just think we need to continue working on our skills."

Stokes vs Holder

The series will feature a mouthwatering clash between the two top-ranked all-rounders in Test cricket -- West Indies skipper Holder and England vice-captain Ben Stokes.

"The rivalry is always there because I think Ben is the type of person who wants to be number one and Jason is up there," said Simmons.

"They're competitive in all aspects so I think that rivalry is going to be huge for this series." 

The West Indies coach said his players had taken about a week to settle into their bio-secure camp at Old Trafford, which will host the second and third Tests.

England are set to enter their own camp in Southampton on Tuesday.

Read | Anderson grateful for West Indies' 'scary' decision to tour England

Simmons, a former opening batsman, said the cricketers would show their backing for the Black Lives Matter movement, following the lead of the Premier League.

"We definitely are thinking about things we can do to show our solidarity for the movement," said the coach, who added the Caribbean side would talk with their England counterparts over what action to take.

Simmons said he had experienced racism in league cricket in England, though not at the county level.

"I have encountered it in the leagues," he said. "It's not a nice thing to face, especially in the leagues where you are by yourself sometimes. It affected my wife when I was up there."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Ishara S. Kodikara

Phil Simmons has returned to take charge of the West Indies three years after being dismissed in controversial circumstances, Cricket West Indies announced on Monday.

In a statement CWI said that Simmons would be head coach for the next four years. He led the Windies to the 2016 Twenty20 World Cup before being booted out amid tensions with his paymasters.

"Bringing Phil Simmons back is not just righting a past wrong, but I am confident that CWI has chosen the right man for the job at the right time," said CWI president Ricky Skerritt.

Former West Indies all-rounder Simmons, 56, was sacked in September 2016 for "differences in culture and strategic approach" between with the cricket hierarchy despite their remarkable T20 World Cup triumph, won in the last over of a dramatic final against England when Carlos Brathwaite hitting four consecutive sixes.

Simmons' success in the T20 arena however was not mirrored in Test cricket. During his reign the West Indies won only one of 14 Tests.

The strains between Simmons and the West Indies cricket authorities often bubbled to the surface, most notably in 2015, when he complained about the selection of the squad for a one-day series against Sri Lanka.

He was suspended after complaining of "interference" in the selection process, reinstated after a reprimand before being forced out the following year.

Featured image courtesy: AFP/ Jewel Samad

Afghanistan's World Cup campaign was plunged further into crisis on Wednesday as coach Phil Simmons promised to lift the lid on simmering tensions with chief selector Dawlat Ahmadzai.

Ahmadzai has laid the blame for Afghanistan's five defeats in as many World Cup matches at the door of former West Indies all-rounder Simmons and his coaching staff.

The former bowler has accused Simmons of failing to prepare the team properly for their second appearance at the global showpiece event.

But now Simmons has promised to shine a light on troubles within the camp, including revealing details of the controversial decision to replace Asghar Afghan as captain less than two months before the start of the World Cup.

"I am in the middle of a World Cup and trying to get our team to perform to the level we expect," Simmons, who is standing down as Afghanistan coach at the end of the tournament, wrote on Twitter.

"But at the end of the World Cup I will tell the Afghanistan people about the part that Mr Dawlat Ahmadzai had to play in our preparation and his part in the dismissal of #AsgharAfghan."

Asghar was replaced as captain of the team in all three formats in April, with Gulbadin Naib picked to skipper the side at the World Cup.

Afghanistan were hit by more off-field problems on Monday when some members of their squad were involved in a late-night altercation that saw police summoned to a restaurant in Manchester.

World Cup hosts England defeated them by 150 runs on Tuesday -- inflicting a fifth straight defeat at the tournament.

Rooted to the bottom of the 10-team table, Afghanistan next play India, one of the title favourites, at Southampton on Saturday.

Feature image feature: AFP Photo/ Dibyangshu Sarkar

Former West Indies all-rounder Phil Simmons will step down as Afghanistan coach after the cricket World Cup, saying his goal had been reached by taking the minnows to the 50-over showpiece.

AFP / Manjunath Kiran

Simmons, who took over in December 2017, said he will not renew his contract after the World Cup in England and Wales.

"I have thought about it and I have actually given the ACB (Afghanistan Cricket Board) my notice that I will not be renewing my contract," Simmons told ESPNcricinfo.

"I will move on to something different once my contract expires on July 15."

With Simmons as coach, the war-torn nation clinched a berth in the 10-team World Cup after beating West Indies in the final of a qualifying tournament last year. Simmons also guided Afghanistan in their debut in Test cricket in India last year. They beat Ireland to register their first Test win in March.

"I signed up originally for 18 months and I think I have done a lot in this period. It is time for me to move on to something else now. To want to get to the World Cup -- that was ACB's goal at the time they appointed me," said the 56-year-old Simmons.

"My goal is always to leave things better than when I joined: the way we practise, the way we think about the game, the way we assess other teams. I've tried to help the players in all those areas."

Simmons' decision to quit comes at the back of the ACB's controversial change in the side's leadership, which brought an end to Asghar Afghan's four-year captaincy stint across all formats.

Gulbadin Naib was appointed ODI captain, while Rahmat Shah and Rashid Khan were put in charge of the Test and T20I teams respectively. Simmons said that he had not been consulted about by the ACB and the national selection committee.

"No, I was not aware of it. I was not given any reasons. It was the decision of the Afghanistan Cricket Board and the selectors," Simmons said.

"How can I take it? I can't change it. So I have to just get on with what I have to do and make sure the squad is preparing in the same way I wanted them to prepare barring the (captaincy) change."

Afghanistan will begin their World Cup campaign against defending champions Australia on June 1.