By Brandon Corlette
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has been moving full steam ahead as it relates to squad announcements and upcoming tours, but some urgent decisions are yet to be made public. Veteran cricket commentator Joseph “Reds” Perreira weighed in on the replacement of Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams and the selection of a new West Indies Women’s Head Coach.
According to “Reds”, former West Indies Captain, Trinidadian Merissa Aguilleira has indicated interest in signing up for the West Indies Women’s Head Coach post.
“The first urgent decision to be made by Cricket West Indies is to replace Jimmy Adams. My understanding is that his contract is not being renewed. He is back in Jamaica.
“Cricket West Indies have to go to the international market (for a replacement). There is no one that can take up that position easily found within, in the Caribbean. It has to be a person with a strong cricket background,” “Reds” said.
According to the Guyanese veteran, who now resides in St Lucia, Jeffrey Dujon should be the man for the Director’s post.
“He is the one that might be able to take the job and even do a better job than Jimmy Adams, who was found wanting when we lost the World Cup. Dujon is highly respected and has created contacts around the globe. He is possibly a better communicator.”
Based on reports coming out of different parts of the Caribbean, Miles Bascombe, who was co-selector with Roger Harper, the former St Vincent and Windward Islands batsman, may be in the running for the job.
“With all due respect to Miles Bascombe, this is asking someone that is not equipped to play that important role. You have to see a big picture of responsibility. It would be a mistake to try to appoint Miles Bascombe. Maybe it will be unfair to him to carry out that role,” “Reds” explained.
The veteran commentator said: “[Courtney] Walsh started to bring in the younger players, and started to move on from the older players who had a fitness problem. Surprisingly, he was not kept on.
“Interest for the (West Indies Women’s Head Coach) job has been coming out of Trinidad. The former West Indies Captain Merissa Aguilleira. I understand from a good source in Port of Spain is that she is putting in her bid to become the new coach.”
“Her experience is very limited. She coached Trinidad and Tobago in that short CPL exercise among West Indies Women in St Kitts, and I think she managed the West Indies Under-19. That does not make a strong case for handing a job at that high level.”
“Reds” believed that CWI may have to go to the international market to select a Head Coach for the West Indies Women’s team.
Commenting on the possible recall of Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Evin Lewis, Reds said: “Hetmyer is certainly one that should be available for the West Indies T20s. Common sense would indicate that. With Russell and Narine who both had below-par IPL seasons in 2023, in the past they have made themselves unavailable. They have not showed that commitment to the West Indies.”
“This is a question that has been asked around. Lewis has got the talent, but has he got the commitment, and desire, does he want to play?”
“Reds” noted that the Coaches, Daren Sammy and Andre Coley, have to be on the same page with the selectors in sharing ideas.
“As it relates to Desmond Haynes, I am glad he cleared the fact that Hetmyer made himself available, but I felt he could have been a little bit diplomatic by not referring to the request he had from Captain Shai Hope. It would have been better left unsaid,” “Reds” stated. (GTimes)