ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Fast-bowling icon Courtney Walsh believes his previous association with West Indies women will help foster success in his new role as assistant coach.
The 57-year-old, who holds the record for the most Test wickets by a West Indies player, joined the coaching staff headed by former teammate Gus Logie, ahead of Friday’s start of the one-day series against India here.
“The ladies have been very warm and receptive and listened to what I’ve got to say. They are not afraid of trying and implementing what I’ve been telling them,” Walsh said.
“I think one of the advantages I have is that I was involved in women’s cricket before as a selector and I was part of a couple of their training camps, so they know me and they’ve seen me around.
“They know I want the best for them and they appreciate that, so for me it’s a plus coming back into the fold of the women’s team now.”
Walsh is coming off a four-year stint as Bangladesh men’s coach, parting ways with the Asian side following the ICC World Cup in England last July.
The Jamaican is part of an overhauled management group which sees Logie taking over from Hendy Springer and Betty Lewis replacing Anne Browne-John as team manager. Guyanese Rayon Griffith, a recent member of the senior West Indies men’s coaching staff, has also joined the women’s side.
Walsh said he was looking forward to forming a strong partnership with Logie in helping to develop the women’s unit.
“My function is to focus a lot more on the bowlers and the cricket in general to get the ladies together,” he pointed out.
“I’m just happy to be able to work with Gus – we haven’t had a chance to be on the same team since we were players and we just want the women to play the type of cricket we know they can play.”
Director of cricket Jimmy Adams said there were high expectations for the new management group.
“I am confident that our entire support staff, under Gus’ leadership and direction, is capable of driving our women’s cricket forward whilst we begin the search for a permanent head coach,” he noted.
“Gus has been involved with the programme for the past two years and both Rayon and Courtney bring with them a strong working knowledge of what it takes to be successful at the elite level.”
The second ODI of the three-match series is carded for today at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground. West Indies lead the series after winning the opener by a single run at the same venue.
