Floyd Reifer appointed new interim Head Coach of West Indies
- Browne sacked as Chairman of selectors
Cricket West Indies announced Thursday Floyd Reifer as the interim Head Coach of the West Indies senior men’s team.
Reifer comes in to replace Richard Pybus before the Englishman’s contract ends. He was contracted by the previous administration until the end of the Indian series in the Caribbean in August.
This decision was confirmed after the Cricket West Indies Board of Directors’ meeting on Tuesday, April 9, and is part of the “Cricket First” plan to increase the utilisation of regional technical expertise and build international experience for Caribbean coaches.
President Ricky Skerritt said, “In my previous role as CWI Independent Director, Floyd Reifer has for some time been identified as the outstanding emerging Caribbean coach. He displayed this recently by leading the West Indies A team to victories against England Lions, the West Indies Senior team to the T20 series win in Bangladesh and his key role in the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) Marooners win in the 2018 Super 50 tournament.”
“Coaching at any major international tournament is clearly a career-defining experience for West Indian coaches and players and we believe it’s strategically more beneficial for a Caribbean coach with the proven skill sets to have this exposure.”
Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams explained, “Floyd will have the authority, in close collaboration with myself and CEO Johnny Grave, to recruit a compatible and effective supporting management team.
The interim Head Coach will also have selector-status, guaranteeing him a meaningful input into the selection process on which his performance also depends.”
Adams continued, “We will then start a comprehensive recruitment/search process for the best available West Indian Head Coach from September 2019, immediately following the home series against India.”
New Interim Head Coach, Floyd Reifer said, “It is a true privilege to be appointed to this position. I believe that I have the skills, technical abilities and winning mindset to impart on the West Indies team as we look forward to improved and consistent performances, especially as we aspire to win the Cricket World Cup for the third time. I want to help restore pride to our fans here in the Caribbean and around the world. We’re here to win, not just compete.”
Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams clarified that Pybus, who was serving as interim Head Coach during the England series, will return to his main role as High-Performance Director.
Additionally, CWI announced several major changes relating to team selection as part of the “cricket first’ plan promised.
It was noted that a new selection policy is being introduced immediately ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup as well as a Task Force to review the current selection system.
Mr. Robert Haynes has been appointed as interim Chairman of Selectors, CWI announced.
“For team selection across all West Indies teams and age groups, the new policy is simply one that ‘if a player can still get selected for the team, they must be considered’. There will be no reason for non-consideration other than form or fitness,” the CWI said.
A Selection System Review Task Force, to be chaired by Vice President Dr Kishore Shallow, will be announced shortly, to comprehensively re-evaluate the selection system.
It is expected to introduce global best practices to the selection system and result in closer alignment with the multiple formats and modernization of the game, including paying special attention to selection effectiveness for junior and women’s teams.
While this review is undertaken over a three to six-month period, Mr. Robert Haynes, an experienced selector who served on the selection panel from 2008-2014, has been appointed as the interim Chairman of Selectors until the Selection System Review has been completed.
Mr. Haynes will be assisted in selecting the team for the Irish tour and the ICC World Cup by the new interim coach and the team Captain, Jason Holder.
Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams explained that, “Robert Haynes will be in place for three months or until the selection system review is completed. Following this, full-time two-year appointments will be made. The Head Coach will also have selector status to ensure he or she has meaningful input into the selection process which is such a big factor for team success.”
Interim Chairman of Selectors, Robert Haynes outlined the new approach: “We are creating a level playing field for everyone based on form and fitness. We have outstanding talent across the region and consistently selecting our best team possible is paramount for our future success.”
