SPORTS
Jonathan Ramnansingh
Former Jamaica wicketkeeper/spinner Andre Coley has been appointed interim coach of the West Indies team for the upcoming tour of South Africa.
A statement released by Cricket West Indies (CWI) on Wednesday confirmed Coley’s selection at the helm.
He said he will oversee the two-Test tour in Zimbabwe (January 28 to February 16) as well as the multi-format tour in South Africa, which includes two Tests, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three T20 Internationals ( February 21 to March 28).
Coley’s selection came as a result of a CWI board of directors meeting on Monday and following the retirement of Phil Simmons as coach last week following the two-Test tour of Australia.
On his nomination, Coley said it was a “special honour”.
“The upcoming task will be challenging as we will face two teams in their home conditions. We will need to ensure that our planning and preparation are adequate and demonstrate consistency in the implementation of these plans to give ourselves the best chance of achieving positive results.”
“The players, I’m sure, are enthusiastic about the opportunities that both series have to offer and are eager to contribute to the success of our team. I look forward to the upcoming tournaments and the opportunity to make a tangible and meaningful contribution to the growth of West Indies cricket.”
Jimmy Adams, CWI’s director of cricket welcomed Coley into the maroon dressing room.
“With his wealth of knowledge of the game, player management skills, dedication and hard work, and attention to detail, we know he is well equipped. He is a highly experienced coach who has operated at every level within the CWI High Performance Pathway.
“This has prepared him for the job at hand and we expect him to once again approach this new role with the same energy and zeal that has characterized his time in the CWI coaching system and earned him the respect of the players and everyone he interacted with. .”
Coley is currently the head coach of the CWI Academy program. While Coley fulfills the interim role, CWI High Performance Manager Graeme West will oversee the West Indies Academy programme, supported by Adams to ensure there is no disruption to the Academy program during the period.
Coley previously served as assistant academy coach and interim Academy coach when the Sagicor Academy was launched in 2010. He was also the head coach of the West Indies U19 team; the assistant coach of the West Indies men’s and women’s teams, as well as the head coach of the Jamaica Scorpions and the Windward Islands Volcanoes, who were the champions of the 2018 Super50 Cup.
In 2016 he was the assistant coach of the West Indies men’s team that won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and earlier this year he was the assistant coach of the Jamaica Tallawahs when they won the Caribbean Premier League T20 title.
CWI also confirmed that the contracts of assistant coaches Roddy Estwick and Monty Desai had ended.
Adams said: “I would like to thank Roddy and Monty for their hard work and dedication in supporting the team over the past few years and wish them all the best in the future.”
TOUR SCHEDULES
West Indies to Zimbabwe
28-31 January: four-day warm-up at Bulawayo Athletic Sports Club
February 4-8: First Test at Queens Sports Club
February 12-16: 2nd Test at Queens Sports Club
West Indies to South Africa
February 21-24: vs South Africa Invitational XI at Willowmoore Park, Benoni
February 28 to March 4: 1st Test at SuperSport Park, Centurion
8-12 March: 2nd Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
March 16: 1st ODI at Buffalo Park, East London (day/night)
March 18: 2nd ODI at Buffalo Park, East London (day/night)
March 21: 3rd ODI at JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
March 25: 1st T20 is at SuperSport Park, Centurion
March 26: 2nd T20I at SuperSport Park, Centurion
March 28: 3rd T20I at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg (night)
