Hinds retained Barbados captain

Ryan Hinds, the West Indies middle-order batsman, has been reappointed as captain of Barbados for the Carib Beer Series and the KFC Cup one-day competition. The Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) has also expanded the coaching staff with former West Indies fast bowler Vasbert Drakes being named as assistant coach to Hendy Springer.

Though the squad was named a week ago, no captain was named, fuelling speculation that Hinds was under pressure to keep the job. He was nominated by the national selectors and the recommendation was ratified by the BCA's board of management on Friday. The board also accepted a proposal that Drakes be added.

"It's an honour to captain the Barbados team and an honour to play," Hinds told reporters after a training session at the Yorkshire Cricket Club in St Michael. "I really enjoy representing my country and I am just looking forward to going out there and giving it my best shot. I urge all the players to give 100 per cent and realise that we represent 277 000 people."

Hinds, who was first appointed captain for the 2005-06 season, led from the front, scoring the most runs in the competition - 720 - at an average of 65.45. Under his leadership, Barbados finished second behind Trinidad and Tobago in the Carib Beer Series after the teams finished level on points.

The selectors had named two separate squads for the four-day and one-day matches last week and the players have undergone intense training sessions under a coaching staff which includes Springer, Drakes, Seymour Nurse, Richard Straker and and Franklyn Stephenson.

"As long we continue to be positive we will do very well," Hinds added. "I am very impressed with the way the selectors handled both sides, and obviously, they included a few youngsters."

Barbados play their opening Carib Beer match against defending champions Trinidad and Tobago from January 4 to 7 at the picturesque North Stars ground in Crab Hill, St Lucy.