West Indies set to appoint separate coaches for red-ball, white-ball team

The West Indies cricket team have decided to appoint separate red and white-ball coaches for the senior men’s team after conducting an independent review of the team’s farcical performance at the T20 World Cup last year, confirmed CWI director Jimmy Adams.

The Men in Maroon’s early exit from the T20 World Cup in Australia last year raised alarm bells in the apex cricketing board. An independent review overseen by Patrick Thompson Jr (chair), Brian Lara and Mickey Arthur, suggested the board go the England route of appointing separate coaches for the senior team.

CWI director of cricket Jimmy Adams revealed that it was necessary to split the coaching role given the increased workload on the coaching staff due to a congested international calendar. Adams feels that the decision will help the coaching staff to prepare and plan adequately for each individual ahead of international assignments.

“We believe it is now necessary to split the role and engage separate coaches for red and white ball formats. The increased frequency of back-to-back multi-format tours combined with the specific demands of the respective formats no longer provides enough time for one individual to adequately plan, prepare and review across bilateral series and franchise itineraries that are so condensed,” Adams said in an official statement.

The Windies cricket team are without a coach after Phil Simmons, their last full-time coach, handed his resignation in the aftermath of their disappointing exit from the T20 WC. The recruitment process for the coaching role is expected to commence soon with the Test team head coach having to deal with the extra responsibility of the West Indies ‘A’ team.

“Separating the roles will also provide the head coaches with more time to oversee players’ ongoing development away from tours directly, and through increased engagement and planning with suitable high-performance programmes and coaches,” Adams added.