Cricket World Player Of The Week - Lendl Simmons

Cricket World Player Of The Week - Lendl Simmons

Lendl Simmons has been instrumental in West Indies securing an unassailable two-nil lead in their ODI series against Bangladesh.

©REUTERS / Action Images

Following the conclusion of the Champions League T20, there has been plenty of international cricket action over the past seven days from which to choose the Cricket World Player of the Week.

Bangladesh and West Indies have faced each other in three limited overs matches, South Africa have hosted Australia in two Twenty20 internationals, New Zealand have kicked off their tour of Zimbabwe, and England have begun their five-match limited overs series in India.

It is from the series in Dhaka where the two main contenders for this week’s award come from. Marlon Samuels and Lendl Simmons have almost single-handedly given West Indies a two-nil lead in their three-match ODI series against the hosts to make up for the disappointment of a narrow defeat in the solitary Twenty20.

Samuels made 58 in that defeat before following it up with scores of 71 from 78 balls and 88 not out from just 74 balls in the two 50-over matches. However, it is Simmons who takes the award, mainly thanks to his match-winning 122 in the opening ODI, which he followed up with a mature 80 in Saturday’s second match.

The 26 year-old Trinidadian has averaged almost 60 in 12 One-Day Internationals since his recall in April this year and along with Samuels, has helped the West Indies remain competitive in their time of transition under the new captain and coach combination of Darren Sammy and Ottis Gibson.

He originally made his international debut in Faisalabad in 2006 but struggled to hold down a regular place in the team and was repeatedly dropped after a couple of poor scores. His recall earlier this year appears to have come at the right time in his career and he has thrived on the added responsibility of being one of the senior men in a young side.

© Cricket World 2011