BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,  CMC – Barbados chief selector Courtney Browne has hailed the move to appoint Ottis Gibson West Indies coach and says the Caribbean will benefit from his experience and competence.

The 40-year-old Gibson was named by the West Indies Cricket Board on Monday to succeed Australian John Dyson in the top regional coaching spot.

“It’s good to see that we have somebody in the Caribbean now who have been around an international setup for a while,” said Browne, the former West Indies wicketkeeper who played 20 Tests and 45 One-Day Internationals between 1995 and 2005.

“Not only that but Ottis’ background has been in coaching development as well. He is the guy who used to set a lot of the programmes for English coaching at the Level Three and Level Four programmes.

“Ottis is really the guy who really sat down and wrote these programmes and implemented them.”

Gibson, who played two Tests and 15 ODIs for West Indies, will take up his duties in the Caribbean at month end after quitting his post as England bowling coach.

He will have ex-West Indies wicketkeeper David Williams as his assistant as he takes charge for the upcoming Zimbabwe and South Africa Home Series.

Browne said the Caribbean would profit from an individual who had a wealth of knowledge and ability to offer to the region.

“I think we have two things coming here to the West Indies: somebody who can really help our coaches and somebody who knows what they are doing,” Browne pointed out.

“I remember from young, Ottis’ dream was to be a coach and to be a West Indies coach so I wish him all the best.

“I’m sure he will get a lot of support from the people here in the Caribbean and we’re looking forward to having him on Caribbean soil again.”