All-encompassing powers for West Indian coach

The coach of the team is likely to assume a far more important position in the proposed new structure of West Indian cricket. Revealing some of the changes while speaking at the 48th anniversary dinner of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, Teddy Griffith, the president of WICB, indicated that the coach would be the person accountable for the results of the team.

Viv Richards, the former coach, had stepped down earlier this year citing lack of autonomy and powers as the main reasons for doing so. The new coach certainly can't make that complaint: according to a report in Daily Nation, a Barbados-based daily, the coach would have an official contract with the board, and would be responsible for preparing the West Indian team for all international games. He would also be a member of the selection panel, and would have the casting vote in selecting the squad and the playing XI. "It follows therefore that he will be accountable for the performance of the team," Griffith said, "and will be judged accordingly in relation to his contract."

There were also specific roles for the manager and the selectors. The manager would also be a full-time employee of the board, and would look after issues like finance, marketing, communications and operations for the contracted players and the coaching staff. "He must also ensure," Griffith said, "that the entire unit conforms to the policies of the WICB, including the code of conduct. He is therefore the representative of the board in the team unit." According to the proposed new system, which is still to be finalised, the selection panel would only consist of four members, including the head coach and the convernor.