It is time that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) see the need to have a full time sports psychologist with the West Indies squad. An examination of the team which has suffered many losses show not only a lack of talent but primarily low self esteem among individuals. Manager and coaches are not experts in this field and it is necessary to have someone lecture and have constant sessions with the players to help build their self esteem. I urge the WICB to see this as important for the team’s development.
SIMMONS MUST REPLACE CHANDERPAUL
Trinidad and Tobago batsman Lendl Simmons should be the player to replace Shivnarine Chanderpaul and this is the time to make the change. Simmons is experienced and widely exposed and he is capable of batting in the middle order in a Test match. He bats too late in the Limited Overs matches. Although he is an opening batsman, he has the skills and knowledge to bat in any position. Simmons should be batting at number four or three in the Limited Overs because his attacking style and stroke play can propel the West Indies to competitive scores.
Chanderpaul must be replaced by a seasoned player who understands the highest level of competive cricket. A middle order with batsmen such as Denesh Ramdin, Jermaine Blackwood and Lendl Simmons must bring dividends to the team.
RECALL HAYNES AS BATTING COACH
It is important and quite necessary to retain former West Indies opening batsman Desmond Haynes as batting coach. The skills of the former opener can be passed on to his fellow Barbadian, Kraigg Braithwaite, who is one of the West Indies opening batsmen. A few of the West Indies batsmen are not keeping their bats close to their bodies and many of them are getting caught behind.
During the three-Tests series with England, at one stage five batsmen were caught at the wicket in one innings, thus showing the flaw of the team. West Indies batsmen continue to make errors that should have been corrected long ago.
The batting strength is just as important as the bowling. The senior players cannot get much help from any coach because they have been around long enough to study their cricket and boost their efforts to be better at their game.
Captain Denesh Ramdin ought to do much more with the bat. Captaincy is leading from the front and showing other members of the team what should be done.
