Cricket fans in the region must be flabbergasted that Cricket West Indies (CWI) cannot name a Head Coach to replace Stuart Law. WHY?
How early did Law indicate that he would be leaving or was that already detailed in his contract with the board?
Could it be that CWI are not capable of thinking outside the box? No.
But a suggestion that Richard Pybus be the interim head coach seem to defy logic.
Again, it may be necessary for CWI to consider having a 3 -man committee of former players to devise a strategic approach for the England tour with a view towards the ICC World Cup May- July this year.
Again is it coincidence that Law left so close to an England tour to the region?
The ICC World Cup to be held in England & Wales will find the former WI head coach in England and later in the year the ICC 20/20 World Championship in Australia, the homeland of Stuart Law.
It will not be an easy hurdle for the WI Team that lies near the bottom of the ICC rankings in both formats.
The team on the day will have to take into consideration two psychological factors; an unpredictable approach in batting and secondly, not to hang their hopes on just one top notch batsman.
Chris Gayle, the internationally renowned six hit specialist has said. “It has been a long journey and the process that we have gone through to qualify……we still have to be thankful.”
Gayle says it will be his last and if he is on a mission the other players should follow him.
In March 2018, Law made similar remarks and said, ” the journey we have been on for the last year(2017-2018) we have had some bad times and some reasonable times.’”
In that time West Indies was pushed to it’s limit to beat Scotland and thereby qualify.
It could be the last curtain for Chris Gayle, Kemar Roach and Marlon Samuels.
It means then that West Indies must now take another look at it’s readiness plans.
Good opening batsmen are rare today, but thinking outside the box will call for courage and positiveness.
So how about a second look at Johnson Charles and a bold one as a first timer, Kimani Melius.
The latter could spring a surprise in CWI fortunes in the next ten months from now.
Erwin Lewis and Kraigg Brathwaite could be automatic, unless their forms take a dive.
These two players. Charles and Melius, if included in this coming tour by England should grasp the opportunity with both hands.
The players in the West Indies should have mindsets based on pride and history taking nothing for granted.
Nine months ago the head coach said this, ” We can now sit down and plan for Cricket World Cup, which is good.”
The determining factor is that the players should not bank on top players alone like, Gayle, Samuels, Hope or Hetmeyer ,but should rally around them. Jason Holder, Andre Russell, Royston Chase can all hold their own anytime.
It is difficult to predict what will happen but I believe much will also depend upon how well we bowl on those days.