Whatmore headlines WI coaching shortlist

by RYAN PATRICK

Two former Sri Lanka coaches -- Dav Whatmore and John Dyson -- are among the candidates to take over as head coach of the West Indies team.

Whatmore, a brand-name coach who has had success with Lancashire, Sri Lanka (two stints) and Bangladesh, is considered the front-runner for the job, which has been vacant since Bennett King resigned in April.

Whatmore, 53, masterminded Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup win and Bangladesh's emergence as a legitimate team on the international circuit. He also took Lancashire to the National League and NatWest Trophy crowns in the late 1990s, cementing his stature as one of the leading coaches in the world.

Like Whatmore, Dyson has experience working with a Test team -- he replaced Whatmore as Sri Lanka's coach in 2004 -- but it is unlikely he could land the West Indies job.

According to information reaching CaribbeanCricket.com, there are several West Indian coaches on the list, including Ireland head coach Phil Simmons, former KwaZulu-Natal coach Eldine Baptiste, incumbent assistants David Williams and Hendy Springer, fast-bowling all-rounder and England bowling coach Ottis Gibson, former Bermuda coach Mark Harper and Vincentian Ian Allen.

The WICB has insisted it will hire the best man for the job regardless of nationality but a strong anti-foreign-coach sentiment in the Caribbean could force the board to ignore Whatmore's candidacy even though he has more experience and credibility on the international coaching circuit.

Roger Harper, who just finished a stint with the Kenyan national team, did not apply for the job. Harper's name is being mentioned for the coaching director of the West Indies academy.

Zimbabwean David Houghton has also applied for the academy job.