Call for foreign cricket coaches

The liaison officer/resident assistant for the first batch of graduates at the Shell Cricket Academy of St George's University feels that time has come for regional authorities to hire a foreign coach.

Dwain Gill, a former Barbados Under-16 and Combined Schools South captain, made the telling comment after observing the impression Australian coaches Bennett King and Terry Oliver created on the 23 students.

Based on the evidence provided at the academy, it appears that for some reason young West Indian players respond more positively to an overseas coach than someone of their own, Gill said.

The response was tremendous. It is something that I have not seen throughout the Caribbean. What was interesting was that neither coach has Test experience, but the players responded to them as though they were gods.

In emphasising his point, Gill pointed to the success that foreign football coaches have gained with the Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago football teams.

The Grenada-born Gill, who grew up in Barbados and captained the Combermere team that won the 1990 BET Under-15 Championship, was also fascinated by the quality of coaching King and Oliver brought to the academy.

The Australians bring a scientific and more modern approach to coaching, he said.

Australia's cricket is not strong by accident but because their programmes are more scientifically-orientated and the coaches are more scientifically aware of the demands of modern cricket.

The communication skills and the strict level of discipline instilled by King and Oliver also stood out.

Coaches nowadays always tell players how to do something, but they don't tell them why. They were able to do this effectively, Gill said.

He, however, still made it clear that Caribbean coaches had a role to play.

West Indian coaches may have the skills and knowledge, but I am not sure if they can get it across in the correct way and I am not sure if the players will respond positively to them, he said.

They can make some contribution. They can be advisors because they have played the game before and played it the West Indian way.

Gill, a recent graduate of St George's University with a bachelor's degree in business administration, said the progress of the students was noticeable.

When the players first arrived, I got the impression that a lot of them thought it was a holiday, he said.

After a couple weeks into the programme, one could observe a distinct change in attitude, moreso than in cricket skills.

The work ethic improved tremendously and by the time they left, they were not only different players, but different individuals.

Gill hoped that the graduates would be able to pass on some of their knowledge to their coaches and clubs, as well as develop on what they learnt.

Going through the academy won't make you a Test player overnight, but the players would now have the skills and know-how about what is required to play at the highest level, he said.

It is up to them to go back to their territories and work on their strengths, weaknesses, and so on.