Former West Indies Legendry batter Shivnarine Chanderpaul will step down as the head coach of the USA senior women’s and U19 teams after the upcoming inaugural ICC U-19 Women’s World Cup in South Africa, USA cricket announced in a statement on Wednesday.
However, former Barbados and West Indies opener Philo Wallace says that former West Indies captain Shivnarine Chandrapul does not have the experience to be the head coach of the West Indies men’s senior team.
“Shiv Chanderpaul as head coach would surprise me. If he is appointed, is it based on scoring over 11,000 Test runs.?”
“His coaching experience at the international level is limited. We cannot continue to keep following people. We have to set an example. Chanderpaul has been a fantasic player. He has had some success with the Jamaican Tallawahs, is it possible he can transfer that into red-ball cricket.”
“Is there a bigger role outside of head coach for Shivnarine Chanderpaul? Can he be our batting consultant? Is he better suited for that role rather than being a head coach? These are things that need to be discussed. Just don’t appoint a man because he has over 11,000 Test runs.”
Speaking on the Mason and Guest Cricket Show on Voice Of Barbados on Tuesday night, Walls said the appointment of the head coach would be a major headache.
“We need to get someone to get our young people to understand what Test cricket is all about. Is Chanderpaul capable of doing that? I know he has matured now, he is a better person but is he not better suited to be the batting consultant.?”
“The head coach of Cricket West Indies is going to be a headache. If you have not appointed one for the new year for the serious tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa, you are staring down the barrel in relation to applications for the head coach job.”
48-year-old Chandrapaul is one of the greatest batsmen in the history of West Indies cricket and he scored 11867 runs with 30 centuries. He played the last of his 164 caps against England at Kensington Oval in May 2015.
Further commented Wallace said, it will be interesting to see Coley’s support in terms of backroom staff,
“My challenge is going to see who that backroom staff is going to be to help support Andre Coley. Missing from our backroom staff is players with international experience to help the young players understand what is required.”
“We talk about people with qualifications such as three and level four coaching experience, but level three and level four knowledge without cricket experience is like trying throwing water in the sea.”
Coley previously served as the Assistant Academy Head Coach and Interim Academy Head Coach when he started the Sagicor Academy in 2010. He was also the head coach of the West Indies U19 team; Assistant coach of West Indies men’s and women’s teams as well as head coach of 2018 Super50 Cup champions Jamaica Scorpions and Windward Islands Volcanoes.
Speaking from his native Antigua, fast bowler great Sir Curtly Ambrose told the radio show that he believes the West Indies will show some improvement in 2023.
Ambrose said he had no problem with choosing Andre Coley as interim coach, describing him as organized and understood his role.
The legend and holder of 405 Test scalps, said he remained ready, willing, and able to serve if asked, adding that he had never turned his back on Cricket West Indies.
Another guest on the show, former Leeward Islands fast bowler George Ferris, says CWI had enough time to appoint Phil Simmons as head coach.
In addition, Ferris said he did not support the selection of Coley as interim coach.
“Why are we repeating, why should we not get someone else? Simmons gave us enough time to choose a new head coach. I just don’t understand this, it is confusing to me.”