Wisden overview
Phil Simmons was an explosive Trinidadian allrounder whose Test record does him no sort of justice. His one Test hundred came against tough opposition at Melbourne in 1992-93, but he made just four other fifties from his 26 starts, most of them as opener. His finest achievement was probably taking Leicestershire to the County Championship with a towering season in 1996, when he collected 1244 runs and 56 wickets – and 35 catches, most of which landed in his bucket-sized hands at slip. Usually a medium-pacer, Simmons bowled quickly that year, reportedly outpacing Devon Malcolm on their one meeting. As a youngster on the 1988 West Indian tour of England, Simmons was hit on the head by David Lawrence in fading light at Bristol: his heart stopped and he needed emergency brain surgery before making a full recovery. Simon Briggs

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