Former West Indies head coach Phil Simmons resigned from his position after the last tour of Australia and Andre Coley was appointed as the interim coach for the next few tours of the West Indies men’s team.
Former first-class cricketer Coley’s appointment was announced last Thursday in a CWI announcement, where it was stated that he will be appointed to this position for the upcoming two tour matches in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Veteran regional cricket analyst Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira believes that the two upcoming tours against Zimbabwe and South Africa could be crucial in assessing Kohli’s condition.
“A lot will depend on the financial strength of CWI if the region is to choose an overseas coach. The coach could might well come from the Caribbean. I think after the Zimbabwe and South Africa tours, he (Andre Coley) will be able to assess his own chances.”
Coley became West Indies’ ninth interim coach since 2000, behind a list that included Gus Logie, David Moore, Henderson Springer, David Williams, Stuart Williams, Nick Pothas, Richard Pybus and Floyd Reifer.
The veteran commentator believes that rather than changing coaches, lack of development at ground level is a more prominent issue.
“Well, I think it’s a greater problem than that (changing of coaches). Other countries have a development programme, from the under-17 to the under-19 levels, while we have the shortest first-class season in the world and we’re not going on a lot of ‘A’ tours in recent times.”
“And I don’t believe schoolboy cricket is strong in the West Indies as it used to be in the times of Brian Lara and Carl Hooper.”
“It’s not the fault of the players, but what you do with them on the way up. Other countries have much more finished product. So England could bring in a Harry Brook, for example, but the number of players competing for selection in the region is, in fact, very small.”
Perreira, who further commented, is of the view that good coaches in the region should be placed at the grassroots level rather than at the senior level.
“Well, I think the focus should be at the grass-roots level and the lower levels, because they’re not as developed and polished like the players from other countries are.”
“Basically, there’s too much need for the coach of the West Indies senior team to do a lot of corrective work which other countries like Australia, India or New Zealand do not have to be doing. There needs to be more corrective work at the under-15, under-17 and under-19 levels.”