Phil Simmons has been Ireland coach for over two years

Ireland coach Phil Simmons has played down suggestions that he could be in line to take the vacant position with his native West Indies.

The West Indies are currently without a coach after John Dyson was sacked earlier this month.

"At some point in time, we are all interested in going home," said the Trinidadian ahead of Ireland's game against England in Belfast on Thursday.

"But right now I'm happy where I am. There has been no contact whatsoever."

With continuing doubts over paceman Boyd Rankin's fitness for Thursday's game at Stormont, Simmons is delighted that Andre Botha will be fit enough to bowl after being troubled by injury this summer.

"It's a plus that Andre is able to bowl again. When he bowls it helps the balance of the team."

Rankin, who picked up a groin strain last week while playing for Warwickshire, underwent a fitness test on Wednesday afternoon but a final decision on his availability may not be made until Thursday morning.

Simmons is hoping that former Ireland favourite Eoin Morgan will be in England's line-up for the Belfast encounter.

Morgan helped Simmons' Irish side qualify for this year's World Twenty-20 before completing his switch to England colours.

"We're very happy that he got into the (England) team and took his chance," added Simmons.

We fell short batting and bowling in the last 10 overs during the game two years ago Ireland all-rounder Trent Johnston

"It would be nice to play against him tomorrow and we would look forward to that."

Simmons believes that Ireland's World Cup heroics in 2007 and displays at this year's World Twenty-20 mean they are no longer underestimated by cricket's major powers.

"I don't think anybody is going to take us for granted. England are going to come here and play as hard as they can."

However, Irish all-rounder Trent Johnston believes that England's Ashes heroics could make them vulnerable at Stormont.

"Hopefully, their mental side of things will not be that turned on," added the former Ireland captain.

"Our preparations have been very, very good and we're really looking forward to the game."

The Irish matched England for much of the 2007 World Cup contest in the Caribbean but were undone by some slack bowling in the final 10 overs of the English innings.

"But we're grown and developed as a team since then," insists Johnston.

"We've worked very hard on our starting and finishing in one day cricket.

"We fell short batting and bowling in the last 10 overs during the game two years ago."

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