Kenny Benjamin joins USA coaching staff

Kenny Benjamin, the former West Indian fast bowler, has joined the USA coaching staff ahead of next week's ICC Champions Trophy in England. Benjamin, 36, is an accredited Level II Coach, and will serve as a technical consultant and bowling coach to help boost USA's prospects in their maiden senior tournament.

Benjamin appeared in 26 Tests for West Indies between 1992 and 1998, picking up 92 wickets at 30.27. In his entire first-class career, he grabbed 403 wickets in 108 matches. He was recently a part of the West Indies coaching set-up, on their tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa at the turn of the year.

The USA team is benefiting from a considerable West Indian presence. Their head coach is the former opener, Faoud Bacchus, while their captain is Richard Staple, a 34-year-old immigrant from Jamaica. Their star batsman is Clayton Lambert, the scourge of England's bowlers on their tour of the Caribbean in 1997-98.

USA launch their campaign against New Zealand on September 10.