Estwick to coach West Indies 'B'

Roddy Estwick has described his appointment as West Indies "B" team coach for the 2003 West Indies first-class championships as among one of the most significant in his career.

"Obviously, the other boards had recommended coaches as well and to be actually selected from among them brought some surprise," the former Barbados and West Indies "B" team fast bowler told WEEKENDSPORT, after his appointment was announced by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) yesterday.

"Once you are given the opportunity to represent West Indies in any capacity, it must rank very highly. It must rank alongside playing for Barbados and representing your country."

The 41-year-old Estwick, who played 20 first-class matches for Barbados between 1983 and 1986, has been employed as cricket master at Combermere School since 1999 and has inspired that institution to overwhelming success in the last few years.

Estwick, the holder of an advanced coaching certificate from the England and Wales Cricket Board, was also the coach of the Barbados youth team that won the regional three-day championship last year and the One-Day title the previous year.

West Indies "B", a team comprising Under-23 players unable to make their territorial sides, is competing in the regional first-class championship for the third straight season.

"Any assignment that you undertake is always going to be challenging, but this one will be a little bit more difficult because the players are from all over the West Indies," Estwick said.

"It is going to be very important that the manager and myself try and get them functioning as a unit, get them to believe in themselves and get them working for one another.

"Once we can achieve that, come the first day of the tournament, I think they'll put up a good performance."

During the first two years of their participation, West Indies "B" performed commendably and some players have since graduated to their national teams.

"Our goal is to try and be as competitive as possible and put up a good showing. If we can get to the semifinal, we'll see what happens from there.

Estwick is filling the breach created by the absence of WICB junior coach Gus Logie, who is assisting Canada in preparation for next month's World Cup.

The WICB also announced yesterday that Vincentian Alfred Bynoe would manage the West Indies "B" team for the third successive year.