Former Test opening batsman, Barbadian Philo Wallace is not supporting the call for Shivnarine ‘Tiger’ Chanderpaul to become the new head coach of the West Indies cricket team.
Speaking on the Mason And Guest cricket radio show on Tuesday night, Wallace said that Chanderpaul lacks coaching experience at the international level and was not the man for the job.
“Shiv Chanderpaul as head coach would surprise me. If he is appointed, is it based on scoring 11,000 Test runs, his coaching experience at the international level is very limited.
“We cannot continue to keep following people. We have to set an example. Chanderpaul has been a fantastic player. He has had some success with the Jamaican Tallawahs, is it possible he can transfer that into red ball cricket?”
Major headache
“Is there a bigger role outside of head coach for Shivnarine Chanderpaul? Can he be our batting consultant? Is he better suited for that role rather than being a head coach? These are things that need to be discussed. Just don’t appoint a man because he has over 11,000 Test runs,” Wallace said.
Wallace, 52, a former Barbados captain, said that selecting a head coach of the West Indies is going to be a major headache.
“We need to get someone to get our young people to understand what Test cricket is all about. Is Chanderpaul capable of doing that? “I know he has matured now, he is a better person but is he not better suited to be the batting consultant? The head coach of Cricket West Indies is going to be a headache. If you have not appointed one for the new year for the serious tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa, you are staring down the barrel in relation to applications for the head coach job,” he added.
The 48-year-old Chanderpaul is one of the most prolific batsman in the history of West Indies cricket, scoring 11 867 runs with 30 hundreds. He played the last of his 164 matches against England at Kensington Oval in May 2015.
Speaking from his homeland Antigua, fast bowling great Sir Curtly Ambrose told the radio show, he was confident the West Indies would show some improvement in 2023.
Ambrose said he had no issues with the selection of Andre Coley as interim coach, describing him as organised, and one who understands his role.
The legend and holder of 405 Test scalps, said he remained ready, willing, and able to serve if asked, adding that he had never turned his back on Cricket West Indies.
Enough time
The 48-year-old Coley, a former Jamaica wicketkeeper, is the head coach of the CWI Academy programme. He has previously served as head coach of the West Indies Under-19s, and as assistant coach of both the senior men’s and women’s teams.
Another guest on the programme, former Leewards Islands fast bowler, George Ferris, says that CWI had enough time since Phil Simmons quit to have appointed a head coach.
Ferris said he did not support the selection of Coley.
“Why are we repeating, why should we not get someone else? Simmons gave us enough time to choose a new head coach. I just don’t understand this, it is confusing to me.”
Wallace says it is going to be interesting to see the support Coley gets in terms of the backroom staff.
“My challenge is going to see who that backroom staff is going to be to help support Andre Coley. Missing from our backroom staff is players with international experience to help the young players understand what is required.
“We talk about people with qualifications such as three and level four coaching experience, but level three and level four knowledge without cricket experience is like trying throwing water in the sea.” (Nation News)