KINGSTON, March 22: Former West Indies all-rounder Phil Simmons hopes his new assignment as Ireland coach will ease the pain of his bruising experience at the helm of Zimbabwe.

Simmons will take charge of the World Cup's most surprising team once the Caribbean adventure ends. That's when current coach Adrian Birrell heads back to South Africa.

“My role was to come and be part of the team and to get to know the people. It's been easy because Adrian is happy with it. Basically, I'm an assistant. It's not been hard at all. It's been very easy.”

The 43-year-old Simmons was officially put in charge of Ireland on March 1, but it was agreed that Birrell would remain at the helm until the end of the World Cup.—AFP