The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has lured England's National Cricket Centre physiologist Richard Smith to join the West Indies team as strength and conditioning coach.

Smith, the former ECB Sports Science Coordinator, will join the management team for the upcoming tour of England. The WICB has also hired David Scott on a six-week contract to serve as "performance enhancement consultant."
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I guess Denoke didn't get the job.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Good move this, finally!!!

But where was the Fitness Trainer during the Worldcup?? Or the Money just come in for them to spend?

My only quarrel with this is that the "performance enhancer" is on only a 6 week contract. This team needs on-going psychological help.

That does not mean that people are mentally ill or any such thing. But the legacy of losing often is more losing, unless there is careful and well-designed intervention.

Also, I do not know why they do not simply call him a sports psychologist, if that is what he is. And if he is not, they should find one. Most successful professional sports teams today have one on staff, or at least on call, on a permanent basis.

What is the responsibility of the team manager?

Still no bowling or batting coach? Are these not as or more important?

In reply to ends

Excellent question. This is a question that has been asked many times and no one seems to know. But the position remains.

In reply to Zikdaman

Manager handles logistics, paperwork, reports, bill-payment, hiring net bowlers, etc. etc.

_r

In reply to Admin

Sounds like a mere clerical position to me then. Why does the position of manager get so much attention?

In reply to Zikdaman

It's an important part of the wheel.

_r

In reply to ends Logistics mostly.

FYI, Daren Ganga has been officially named vice-captain.

_ryan

In reply to Admin
Damn. Quasi slap in de face to Gayle.

In reply to imusic

Gayle came thisclose to not making the team. It's good to have friends as captain.

_r

In reply to Admin
I hear dat. Hopefully he reflect well and focus on makin runs.

In reply to Admin

I understand that, but given the job description as you described, how much does the manager factor in team on field performance? When the team is doing poorly, why do some people ask the the head of the manager? Are they saying he's not doing the paperwork right?

And why does this clerical position even need to go to an ex-cricketer.

In reply to Cameron

Well said, Cameron....

Peak performance psychology is crucial to the development of Windies cricket. Australia and SOuth Africa used it effectively in the 1990s, and the rest of the world is playing catch-up.

In reply to Zikdaman More importantly, why is the manager always someone who is ready to kick the bucket? I think this would be perfect job for DiExBoss! :wink:

In reply to Zikdaman

The manager is also a guy the players "lean on" during rough times. He also plays the role of mentor, big brother on tour. It's an important part of the wheel.

_r

Hearing both David Moore and B King give interviews on cricket, I have more confidence in the former. He sounds as if he has more knowledge on coaching. I am not saying B K has none, but he didn't say much during his interview.

Encouraging signs but still no bowling coach.
Come on people we have an abundance of guys who can coach our fast bowlers.

In reply to ends

What is the responsibility of the team manager?


Obviously to manage! Why do you ask such an obvious question?

In reply to dravid
Isn't Venkatesh Prasad helping you? 8)

In reply to Admin

Why dont you hurry up and do your piece on Lara and the selection committee. You could add this to it too. Should make interesting reading.

In reply to carl0002

I busy.

_r

In reply to Zikdaman

What the fcuk is your preoccupation with manager.

Have you never worked under a manager in your life?

In reply to Admin
I dont think you are busy man. I think somebody else put the breaks on that article. If you don't print that now you can't print it again eh.

Good baby step, not sure its not too late for this tour to make a difference positively.


Wesley

In reply to Admin

Isn't that one of the roles of coaches in the American sports scene? Why do we need a seperate guy acting as big brother in cricket? Cricket seems to be rather unique in having a guy dedicated to being dedicated to being a father figure who also doubles as the official paper pusher.

In reply to dravid

... are you sure? We have great Fast Bowlers, does that transulate into a great or even a good coach?

In reply to Zikdaman ... maybe not, he probably goes by a different title ... usually the manager = coach in most other disciplines.

In reply to natty_forever

That's my point. Whatever the title, these two roles are handled by one individual in most sports. Why does it need to be different in cricket?

In reply to Zikdaman

Does Pat Riley pay the team hotel bills?

In reply to Zikdaman

He probably acts as an interpretor for the player-coach dialogue.

In reply to Larr Pullo

No, I believe that the Miami heat has staff that handle clerical work.

In reply to Zikdaman

Thats what our manager does....you already complaining how the the WICB does hire too many people. In addition cricket teams travel for months on end so I believe that 'manage' is well placed to carry out those functions.

This was first support position too, back in the day teams used to tout with a scorer and a manager, and sometimes even an umpire.

In reply to Larr Pullo

You need to tote an ex-cricketer along with you and pay him big money to pay hotel bills? Nah, dat nuh mekkin sense...not in the technology age.

I can understand the father figure part. I just wonder why that isn't handled by the coach as it is in most other sports.

In reply to Zikdaman

You're getting hung up on the name. Ok, call him a 'bench coach' who fills in with the admin stuff.

_r

In reply to Admin

So you saying he is really the head coach a la "manager" in baseball?

In reply to Zikdaman

He's the cricket manager, a-la the cricket manager.

_r

In reply to Admin

Cricket manager? Ok, I'm more convinced now that it's a superfluous position. I don't see how it brings value to the operation. Let the coach be the father figure. Bills can be paid from home base. This is 2007 after all.

I do think that ziks is getting too hung up on the name His argument is if he is called Manager, then he should be like a soccer or American baseball manager, dammit! If he cant be like that, then lets get rid of him!
Even in football and baseball, there are guys who do the administrative work when the team is on tour. They are not called managers, they're called administrators & support staff. But their work IS necessary.

In reply to Admin


"""""Gayle came thisclose to not making the team. It's good to have friends as captain"""".

On what basis, do you make this assertion?

I think it is simply pre-mature to give the vice-captaincy to a player whose career is best described as a jack-in-the-box. Maybe we need to appease the Trinis for Lara's so-called surpised retirement, by ensuring that another Trini makes the final 11.

In reply to Fortis
It seems as though some of you have something against Trinis?
Gayle is and will always be a slogger, he has never been a batsman! A lot of teams have the recipe for the likes of he and Sewag. He and Samuels are LAZY players and should of been dropped from the team a LONGGGGG..... time ago! Ganga on the other hand has had a disappointing career up to the last two test series. His batting averages is a bit low, however, it is beginning to rise since the last two test series. Also, he has been one of the most consistent batsmen in the region for the past few years and a very motivated and successful captain for T&T. As much as you are looking at his averages in the past, you can also look at his credentials and you will see that he is currently the most qualified person as a player and as captain. However, I do believe that Sarwan is the right man for the job and he has all my support. You are supporting a man as vice captain who should not be in the team. Is this the same reason why you all didn't want Ganga as captain, you all said that he needs to cement his place in the team first? So first look at the facts and apply reason before you start talking crap! This is one of the reasons why WI cricket is in the condition it is in today because of too many pointing fingers, geographics and racism!

In reply to azadtnt

Do you have something against Jamaicans, since the only players that you choose to denigrate are Gayle and Samuels???!!!

Also when you reply to me get your facts straight, or show me where I have been racist!! On the one hand you are lamenting that - ""This is one of the reasons why WI cricket is in the condition it is in today because of too many pointing fingers, geographics and racism!"" - yet your opening remarks are to point fingers at Gayle and Samuels. If you want to appear magnanimous and genuine, I suggest you read your responses in the future before submitting same.

Ganga's average is not "a bit low", IT IS DAMN LOW!!! All this hype about him being a good captain because he basked in a mediocre regional tournamnet is only an indictment of the VERY LOW standards to which the minds of some of you have descended. To think that the idiot Gordon had the nerve to talk about "it will not be business as usual" and then turn around and be party to that farcical selection process that in effect was nothing more than a recycling exercise.

In reply to azadtnt
The problem with us as a people is that we are tribalized and insular, Gayle has been recognized as a top all-rounder just last year not by me but by his peers, his footwork may be poor and may not be consistent but if you examine his and Ganga's record, who's better. I do not want to get into the mud-slinging but the only person that got more chance to play for W.I. that Ganga is Farud Baccus who made a double centry on debut and never showed anything after that. Ganga has great technique, but this has never translated to runs. I think that a Captain must apart from leadership qualities must be able to earn his place in the team. All that said I wish W.I. well, this includes Ganga and Gayle. W.I. cricket is bigger than any individual!!!

In reply to Cameron Mr Cameron: You meant they need psychological help.. Its more mental than physical.

In reply to Yadi Yadi? What was that profanity about! You know whatever you say around here will lose its efficacy!?

In reply to Fortis Mr. Fortis, I could not be more prolific! Truthful and honest as you have been. Thank you!

In reply to Fortis


"I think it is simply pre-mature to give the vice-captaincy to a player whose career is best described as a jack-in-the-box. Maybe we need to appease the Trinis for Lara's so-called surpised retirement, by ensuring that another Trini makes the final 11."

I am not the one who is pointing fingers at geographics. Read what you have posted and then read what I have said. Apparently, you are one of the guilty ones. Also I have nothing against Jamaicans! I simply call it as it is. I've never said Jamaicans, I simply called out two players that was noticeably needed to be wormed out or something. I do think that you need to read my comment again and understand it before you make such childish remarks. If you read my comments in the various posting you will see I have selected players who have earned their selection and who should have been selected instead of by name. Gayle, Samuels, Dwayne Smith, Edwards, Bravo, Taylor, Collymore even Sarwan until the last two matches in the WC when it didn't matter have been under performing, hence one of the reasons for the negative results we have been getting. You want to know why I picked on Gayle and Samuels? Its because they are important players in this team and have disappointed WI fans big time among others not only in their batting but also their lackadaisical attitude in their overall game. Ganga in the last two test series have been averaging in the mid 40's and should be picked base on performance. Has any one of these guys have been performing well enough to deserve a place in this team? Hence my fifteen would have been Devon Smith, Simmons, Ganga, Chanderpaul, Sarwan, Sammy, Ramdin, Rampaul, Collins, Lawson, Jaggernauth, Ryan Hinds, Deonarine, Taylor and Powell. These are the players should have been selected based on performance.

In reply to bunnyb
You are talking in the past. As I said in the last two test series Ganga has been averaging in the mid to upper 40's. What you are referring to is his earlier days. Let me ask you something! Are you satisfy with Gayle's all round performances of late? You don't have to post your answer, I just want you to reflect before you answer yourself.