SPORTS
Newsday reporter
The coming months would be very interesting for the West Indies cricketers; Their new coach has been put in place on an interim basis, so the way forward would be in contrast to the concept of the previous coach.
Every coach has a different approach to leading their team forward, which is only natural as they all perceive situations in a particular way that suits their personality.
Therefore, the philosophy of previous coach Phil Simmons would differ from that of newly appointed newcomer, albeit on an interim basis, Andre Coley, the new man under the microscope. This will also mean changing one of the three selectors because the coach is automatically one of the three.
Barbados-born Roland Butcher has been chosen as the selector, although it is not clear whether he has done this type of work before for any first-class or test teams. I think he must have or I doubt he would have been elected. He played in England for 15 years (1974-90) with Middlesex County Cricket Club as a right-handed middle-order batsman. He represented England in three Test matches averaging 14 and in 3 One Day Internationals averaging 19.
Desmond Haynes is the chief selector and, along with Butcher and Coley, plus input from Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite and whoever would be the white-ball captain (captains are not selectors but are called upon to advise their teams only , they have no vote) would select the teams to tour Zimbabwe and South Africa from 28 January to 28 March.
The itinerary includes two Test matches in Zimbabwe, followed by two Tests, three ODIs and three T20s in South Africa.
There are no teams at the top of the table like Australia to embarrass them, therefore, it is a critical opportunity not only to assess West Indian cricket and what stage it is at, but more so, it should help Cricket West Indies to judge exactly where they are going, what the future holds for them as a Test member for the region in all formats, unless the current plans, plus subsequent policies, have any future expectation of success.
Consequently, great care and consideration must be given when the committee sits down to review their players and decide on a plan moving forward. Will they invest in youth so that in a year or two there will be positive experienced players gracing the international cricket pitches for WI? Or will they stick with those who have experience but have repeatedly failed for several years?
I absolutely appreciated young Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s approach on his Test cricket debut. He showed all the requirements of a budding Test cricketer, to open the batting with captain Brathwaite and give the impression of being a senior batsman. A great “big match” temperament, showing no signs of nervousness or nervousness.
He was a picture of confidence, revealing all the positive signs of a batsman who knew what he was doing. Case never made it in both Tests Down-Under. I could do with more cricketers like this young man. I feel confident that like his father, the fantastic Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Tagenarine practices tirelessly.
This is the advice and work ethic that coaches must push endlessly in order for them to succeed. Through long and hard practice sessions, one builds confidence, concentration, skill and all that is positive. And the beauty of this is that the cricketer does not have to wait for the coach to tell him how and when to train.
When the team practices, well, he’ll be there with the team. However, if he wants to bat for an hour more in the nets, he can arrange bowlers to thrive for him. The best batsmen in world cricket over the years, the record holders, all did it and although I mention batsmen, it works for bowlers too. I keep saying that cricketers don’t practice enough, yet this is the only way to improve technical skills, plus, all the other assets a cricketer needs to play the game skillfully, improving all the time and eventually emerge victorious.
There are plenty of promising youngsters in the region and the selectors’ job is to identify them, increase their workload and improve their cricketing intelligence with constant lectures, making sure they understand the game and why they are made. several approaches. Only then, WI would boast a winning team.
