Benjamin: 'I Wasn't Wanted at Academy'

Former Antigua and West Indies fast bowler Kenny Benjamin has dismissed talk that he was bypassed for the job as bowling coach at the Shell Academy because of a failure to communicate with director Dr Rudi Webster.

Instead, Benjamin told CaribbeanCricket.com his request for a detailed job description was ignored by Webster who "never wanted me there in the first place."

In response to an Academy official who claimed Benjamin was tardy in accepting the Bowling Coach offer, the WICB-certified coach said it was a "blatant lie" that he never responded to Webster's job offer.

Benjamin provided CaribbeanCricket.com with copies of letters he sent to St George's University Dean Dr Theodore Hollis and Dr Webster, seeking clarification on "important matters" relevant to the offer.

Benjamin's first letter, dated July 2, 2003, asked for clarification of the term "bowling coach," specifically whether it included work with spin bowlers.

In addition to seeking clarification about the role of the bowling coach and his relationship with the head coach, Benjamin asked about a phrase in the job offer that mentioned "other duties as detailed by the Director."

"I would appreciate a full list of duties to be performed," Benjamin wrote. He said he wanted a full list of duties because he was wary of problems in the past between Dr Webster and coaches working at the Academy. "I heard about all the problems and I wanted things straightened out so there would be no problems. I thought it was the right thing to do," he explained.

Benjamin also asked to be provided with video tapes and biographical data of the bowlers chosen for the academy, noting that those were important to adequately prepare himself for the assignment.

But, in an exclusive interview, Benjamin said it appeared Webster did not want to answer his questions, and instead used money as "an excuse" to go in another direction. (Webster has since hired Barbadian Ezra Moseley as the bowling coach).

Benjamin explained that the Academy offered to pay US$1,400 for the two-week stint but he countered with a US$2,800 figure. After his counter-offer, Benjamin said he got a note from Webster that said the US$1,400 was final and non-negotiable and that the Academy would go in another direction if he did not accept.

After receiving that ultimatum, Benjamin sent another letter to Webster (provided to CaribbeanCricket.com and dated June 13, 2003) that insisted money was "the least of the problem[s]."

"I would like to resolve the matters identified in my earlier letter to Dr Hollis. To date, you have only responded to the query about salary; this is the least of the problem. Until these matters are addressed, I am unable to confirm my availability to visit the Academy," Benjamin wrote.

He said he never once got a response from Webster or Hollis to clarify the seven points/questions in his earlier missive.

"They never responded to me. I even spoke to [then WICB President] Wes Hall and the chairman of the cricket committee Mike Findlay and they agreed that all the questions I asked were reasonable. Why couldn't Dr Webster simply clarify the points I raised instead of making it an issue about money. It was never about money," Benjamin declared.

The outspoken Benjamin, who took 92 wickets in 26 Tests for the Caribbean side between 1992 and 1998, said he sought the intervention of Wes Hall and WICB chief executive Roger Brathwaite, to no avail.

"They [Brathwaite and Hall] both agreed my questions were reasonable but why couldn't they get some answers from the Academy? You know what I mean. Why couldn't the WICB follow-up with the Academy and get me a proper job description. It's very disappointing," Benjamin said.

Benjamin, who has worked at WICB bowling camps, blamed Webster for "controlling" the hiring process. "As far as I am concerned, he never wanted me there in the first place. I was willing to give it a shot because it was all about the cricket but Webster wanted someone else."

"From the very beginning, he asked for information about my social life. He actually sent a formal request to the WICB asking about my social life. I was recommended for the job by the WICB's cricket committee and it looks like Webster just wanted an excuse to hire someone else. If that's what he wants, no problem, but don't try to blame me for not communicating. That's just a blatant lie," Benjamin declared.

Benjamin also expressed disappointment that he was not contacted by Academy head coach Roger Harper during the time he was asking for a detailed job description. "He's the head coach. I can't understand why Roger Harper couldn't call me informally to discuss any of this?"

"Like I told Wes Hall, all they had to do was clarify some of my questions and I would have been on my way. These were perfectly normal questions I was asking. Quite frankly, I don't think it had nothing to do with communication or money," Benjamin declared.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Dr Rudi Webster did not respond to telephone and e-mail requests for a response to this article.