Will Logie Get an Assistant?

Sun, Jul 13, '03

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) will formally, and predictably, confirm the appointment of Trinidadian Gus Logie as head coach of the regional team, but a plan to hire Kenny Benjamin as an assistant is being met with stiff resistance.

Benjamin, the former Antigua and West Indies fast bowler, is favoured by the WICB?s Cricket Committee to land the job as assistant coach, but insiders say the board has soured on Benjamin?s suitability after he was picked to work at the Shell Academy in Grenada, but never communicated his acceptance of that job.

Back in May, Benjamin was announced as the Academy?s bowling coach to work alongside Roger Harper (head coach) and Darnley Boxill (technical, tactical and motor skills coach) but, according to sources, several efforts by Academy director Dr Rudi Webster to contact Benjamin were unsuccessful.

Eventually, the academy hired former Barbados and West Indies fast bowler Ezra Moseley to fill the vacancy.

Benjamin, who took 92 wickets in 26 Tests for the Caribbean side between 1992 and 1998, has worked with the WICB?s development committee at training camp for fast bowlers and a stint at the academy was seen as a stepping stone to the bigger job as assistant coach for the senior team.

But, after complaints from Dr Webster about Benjamin?s inability to communicate, Benjamin?s stock has fallen considerably. Not surprisingly, the academy?s decision to bypass Benjamin and hire Moseley is being criticised by some members of the Cricket Academy.

?This is just another case of our recommendations being rejected (by Dr Webster),?according to a member of the WICB Cricket Committee who spoke on condition of anonymity. ?Webster rejected Kenny although he was endorsed by the WICB. Just like he rejected Jeff Dujon who we endorsed to be the academy?s head coach."

An official at the academy said numerous phone calls and e-mail messages were left with Benjamin to discuss his role as bowling coach, but, to date, there has not been a single response.

?The academy is a three-month programme. We can?t wait indefinitely on Mr Benjamin,? the official declared.

Meanwhile, the board was expected to rubber-stamp the recommendation of the 43-year-old Logie as head coach at its meeting here yesterday. Logie has held the post on an interim basis through the two home series against Australia and Sri Lanka after the snafus over the selection of Australian Bennett King for the job.

Although the West Indies lost three of the four (Tests and ODI) series against Australia and Sri Lanka, Logie?s youthful squad was lauded for competing hard throughout.

Logie, a Level III accredited coach, has coached West Indies representative teams at the Under-15, Under-19, Youth World Cup, Windies ?A? and Windies ?B? teams.

From 1995, he has an unbeaten record as coach of all West Indies Under-19 and Windies ?A? team Test match tournaments.