ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Two former West Indies captains will join the team’s preparation ahead of the upcoming MyTeam11 Test Series against India. Brian Lara, one of the greatest batsmen of all-time, and Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was one the leading players of his generation, will be part of the pre-series camp to be held in Antigua ahead of the first Test match against India.

They will share their immense knowledge, experience and expertise with the members of the 13-member squad ahead of the MyTeam11 Series, which is co-sponsored by Skoda and KEI. West Indies and India will play two Tests – from August 22 to 26 at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in North Sound, Antigua; and from August 30 to September 3 at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. 

Jimmy Adams, Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) Director of Cricket, was grateful to Lara and Sarwan for coming on board and offering their time to interact with the young batsmen as they get ready for this crucial two-match series – which will signal the start of the new ICC World Test Championship (WTC) for both teams.

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I cannot fault CWI for this initiative but with our current batsmen already steeped in their bad habits and poor techniques we are asking for a miracle attempting these short term fixes.

I wish these development aids can be applied to the formative years of cricket development in the region where the yields will be ten fold.

I guess if we cannot teach some of those cricketers new tricks in mid stream but it does not hurt trying. anyway..however it is like mission almost impossible.

In reply to Courtesy

They should be working with the U15, U17 and U19.

Then their flaws can be worked on over a
period of months.

You are correct two weeks will not work.

Good get Shiv and Ambrose/Walsh in the mix, make it long term

In reply to sgtdjones

Yep. This is the yawning gap that has got to be closed. We have a propensity in the region to attempt to solve a problem when the horses have bolted.

Sarwan great? lol

They may not be able to fix technical issues in a short space of time but their words and wisdom could inspire the young men to end their gutless displays at the batting crease.

In reply to jacksparrow

Ambrose has had his chances..some of your fans think the legends have a magic wand..

Desmond Haynes can't get a break, trough not large enough?

A batting/bowling coach should also be assigned to all regional four day franchises as well.

With incentives given to the coaches based on team performances.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com
these players to hard headed stuck in their ways you see when lloyd tried to talk to hetmyer it went through one ear and came out the other

Dese short term fixes are window dressing and seldom work. We had Sarwan for de Ireland tour den we eh hear about him again till now. He shud have been reinforcing his advice all thru de Indian A and Senior tour

In reply to Courtesy

but most of these guys issue is mental? they need deeper intervention

too many damn coaches, what will the regular coaching staff be doing during this period?


let the coaching staff prepare the team in the camp, you can arrange a separate clinic for other players with Lara and Sarwan!

In reply to camos

They are fake anyway

So they will be learning too

In reply to Narper

well! get rid of them. you are undermining the staff by introducing another set of advisors.

Wow, Chrissy must be having multiples!

Why so much cynicism from almost everyone here?? Geeeeze!! At least the Admin was able to get Sarwan and The Genius on board. My Pops would say 'half a loaf is better than no bread'!! Stop the pessimism please. Someone said Hetty ignored Lloyd? Lies. I know both men. Hetty Is impulsive but humble and will benefit most from Lara and Ronnie. Hope, Nicholas and the younger players will improve in appreciation of the nuances and strategic thinking involved in the different facets of the game. Unfortunately there are a few for whom NOTHING can be done. Carlos Braithwaite and Nurse should never touch anything maroon again. There is absolutely little if any upside in these Club players. Polly should promptly be named Captain of both white ball teams - to the extent he is committed. Jason can be given another run of the Test team until we find a better replacement. BTW: has anyone ever wondered why Chanderpaul remained at the top of his game amidst the mess in the WI in his late 30's? Well I have discovered that he paid good money for bowling machines and nets to be used wherever he was based and spent thousands of net hours perfecting his game. His work ethic is exemplary. How many of these new 'stars' can we say have even attempted to hone their craft this way? I hope Brian and Ronnie can inspirational.

In reply to Islander

Well said.

//

In reply to Islander

Well said brother!
Call a good idea a good idea and talk done.

Allyuh must understand that such an arrangement is piecemeal and does not take a holistic approach to a major problem which has plagued us for almost three decades.

As another poster said "a drowning man will clutch at a straw" but is the straw adequate to save his life? I am yet to be convinced that a two week batting programme will be cost beneficial but by all means enjoy the two weeks of eating the fish even if you starve after this.

We have attempted to implement such an ultra short term measures in the past and the outcomes speak for themselves. Perhaps, it's a Caribbean way of problem solving.

I refuse to accept such an approach will be sustainable and effective. For the posters who believe it's the correct approach - stick with your plan and I wish you the best of luck.

I know this piecemeal approach will never stand on its own. NEVER.

It's only a ploy which will become a ready made excuse for our batting failures. "but we provided them with a two week batting programme..."

Skerritt is confused and may end up hurting players, players will be receiving three sets of batting instructions in the last 6 months.

In reply to sgtdjones

Are you involve in any kind of hobby, that involve a coach or a teacher?
Lara and Sarwan can assist each batsman on their game, by working on individual flaws of each player.
A year ago during a regional game, a commie who played cricket with players from Barbados, outline some flaws of various Barbadian batsman.
He said Shai start his bat from the slips, instead of taking straight back, watching Kraigg, he has too much movement at the crease, putting his weight on his left foot, by doing this he can only go backwards or get stuck in his crease.
Hetty is just in the T20 mood, spending time with the youngster will assist him, in playing shots along the ground.
DMB, just need to be around his hero.

In reply to openning

what the current batting coach will be doing while Sarwan and Lara work with these guys?

In reply to openning

Are you telling us these batting inadequacies will be solved during a two week coaching programme? And did we only now know of these batting deficiencies and if your answer is No why haven't they been solved in the past?

And if your answer is YES, why haven't these flaws been dealt with before now?

Folks I picked this up yesterday during an interview with Steve Smith and Nasser Hussain which was aired yesterday. It is instructive:

(i) Find a way which is instinctive and natural to your game.

(ii) Learn the fundamentals of batting early before you can build on your game.

(iii) Little or no interventionist coaching.

(iv) Hitting plenty, plenty balls in the nets (practice, practice, practice).

(v) Techniques to build powers of concentration are vital.

Instructive, isn't it?

In reply to Courtesy/Camos

Sarwan and Lara working one on one with each batsman, can assist them during the series.
At this level a player need a coach to work with one on one, Kohli has a team he works with.
At my age I have a dance teacher who I take Private lessons from, and every year I get a number of Golf lessons.


Are the batting coaches working on each player flaws or are they teaching from a book?


Who is the team batting coach?
A two week camp is to prepare the team, as a group, that what the present batting coach can do.
Sarwan and Lara can work with each batsman, individually, one on one.

In reply to openning

Tell us in detail what areas of batting Lara and Sarwan will be be working on with each batsman? If possible just list the areas.

In reply to Courtesy

I don't have any video of the batsman, that for Sarwan and Lara to review, and assist each batsman.
Gordon Greenidge used to asked a few locals, to watched him at practice, and to let him know, what he was doing wrong.
I written about this numerous times, because my Former games master, was one of the guys that GG depended on.
BTW, some of Barbados greats, depended on many locals to assist them at practice, a guy with one arm spent hours in the park, bowling at Sobers, Peter Lashley, Cammie Smith, David Holford and many Parkites.

In reply to openning

What are the areas from your experience watching our batsmen Sarwan and Lara can work on?

In reply to Courtesy
Kraigg I watched from the series in NZ, has an open stance, but he move his left leg before the delivery to get square on, putting his weight on his left leg.
That can be corrected.
Most changes take plenty repetition, but having both explorers, working individually with 3-4 batsman each, an hour daily, before the series, will help prepare them to face the Indian attack.
In a group session, they can show the batsman the correct way to play spin bowling.

In reply to openning

Kraigg cannot bat period. And it's only because of a dearth of batting in the region he makes a weak arse batting side. Lara and Sarwan cannot help Kraigg at this stage in a two week window.

You have said nothing specific about the others. Tell me what the other batsmen need working on?

In reply to Courtesy
I don't have any video clips of the batsman, and I am not an expert on batting.
I will leave it to Sarwan and Lara, to review each player and assist them.
BTW, As an adult have you been involve in teaching, or working to improve a sport or any recreational hobby?

This is why I stay away from rum shops or bars.
My Antiguan buddy saw Kraigg at the U19 level and was impress with his batting, he moved to Antigua when Kraigg debuted, and called me to say, the coach in Barbados as teen away Kraigg strength, which was leg side dominance and leaving poking at every delivery.
Had that coach, worked with Kraigg on his weak areas, and allowed him to build on his strong area, he may be a better batsman.

In reply to openning

Why do you think we suck? We suck because few of our current cricketers have no mastered the fundamentals.

It's like a house built on very weak foundation. It will crumble when put through rigorous examination. And with all due respect mate, our batsmen are lacking in basic skills which had to be honed in a long time ago.

Lara and Sarwan can only tweak if they have solid foundations...only fine tuning should be needed by our batsmen at this stage.

Most of our batsmen need a lot more than fine tuning.

Steve Smith again:

In reply to tigga

Show me any one on this team right now that is better, I dare you?

Is this a subtle attempt to say that the fault lies only with the players? How about we bring in some admins from Aus to coach our WICBC admins at the same time?

In reply to Courtesy

Dude, players likeSteve Smith and Kohli has a complete team that assist them.
They are no different to the team, that the William sisters, Tiger Woods have.
So to quote Smith is not telling the reader, Smith's back ground.

I think Sarwan and Lara should be concentrating their efforts on Hetmeyer and Pooran and Hope.
We need a middle order batsman (or two) between #3 and #6 that can stand up and play good cricket.

It should not matter if it is a one-day 50 overs game or test cricket. These guys have only one gear, especially Hetmeyer.
I am souring on this chap somewhat.

In reply to openning

What's your point? Spell it out?

I said if the solid foundation is lacking in our players at this point in time Sarwan and Lara can do jack shit. At this stage our their careers our batsmen should only be tweaking their game not learning the game.

Is it the first time that CWI have have made short batting and bowling programmes available to our cricketers? Have you seen any significant improvements?

Did you see the seam position of Jofra Archer's bowling today? How many of our bowlers keep an upright seam?

Conclusion: Our current crop of cricketers are too steeped in bad habits. The focus should be on the formative years.

These short term arrangements will not get us to the next level.

In reply to Courtesy
Most of our players are competitive at the U19 level, it is the development structure through out the region, that has failed the players.As a Cajan I saw it, a number of years ago, when I saw Roland Holder wicket keeping in a match, contested in the top division.
If a product is being devalue, so too will be it players.
Why was Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge now employed by the BCA?
As I said I can only speak about Barbados, players after the U19 level, should have a place that will assist them with their game.
We just don't have it.

In reply to openning

Why did it take you so long?

Give Lara and Sarwan long term contracts to work with youngsters in an academic environment (cricket).

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

The only way they could help this current crop of WI batsmen, if Lara and Sarwan bat themselves.

seconded!