Wright Fired as J'ca Manager

Lyndel Wright has been fired as manager of the Jamaica national team after four years on the job.

Wright, a member of the board of directors of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) was voted out at a board meeting late Tuesday evening and sources say rural administrator Maurice Clarke will take over for next January's Carib Beer Cup competition.

The dismissal of Wright comes less than a month after longstanding captain Robert Samuels was removed from the captaincy and signals a dramatic leadership shift after recent disappointments on the field of play.

No reasons were provided for the removal of Wright, described by many as a staunch disciplinarian who butted heads with local cricket administrators. Not much is known about Maurice Clarke, the replacement who also sits on the 12-man JCA board of directors.

After four years as senior team manager, the 52-year-old Wright has seen Jamaica win the Busta Cup twice (league) as well as the Busta International Shield once. However, his teams have never been able to lift the regional limited overs title, even with one of the strongest team in the Caribbean.

In this year's Red Stripe Bowl, Jamaica's collapse in the semi-final against Guyana was spectacular and led to the embarrassing scenario where Samuels was roundly booed during the post game presentation ceremony.

A former wrist spinning all-rounder, Wright appeared in 24 first class matches for Jamaica in the early 1970s. He finished his modest career with 40 wickets at 26.82 per (best bowling 5-36).

Wright, who works as project manager for Jamaica's National Housing Development Corporation, is the younger brother of Collie Smith, the former West Indies batsman who died in hospital following injuries received in a motor-car accident (Garfield Sobers was also involved in the crash).