WEST Indian fast bowler Sir Curtly Ambrose as well as former Test players Reon King, Pedro Collins, Stuart Williams and Ryan Hinds are among 25 regional cricket coaches who achieved Level 3 certification through a collaborative effort between Cricket West Indies and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
The eight-day tutored course focused on preparing coaches to work with elite players and teams and is expected to further advance the continued efforts of Cricket West Indies (CWI) to strengthen coaching and ultimately improve the quality of regional squads and players.
“The Level 3 course is an important part of the current CWI coaching pathway which starts from the foundation course and incorporates Levels 1 and 2 and now includes Level 3,” said CWI Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams.
“We are keen on ensuring all our franchises have the benefit of coaches prepared at the elite level.
“With the Level 3 certification, coaches are better equipped to lead their national teams and the training and experience should provide the tools necessary for more one-on-one coaching while allowing them to better prepare elite players.”
Ambrose, who was delighted at the opportunity to upgrade his technical knowledge, said, “I want to use this newly-acquired skill as soon as I am able to and I am looking forward to contributing more, soon,” he said.
Andrew Richardson, assistant coach of the Jamaica Scorpions and manager of the Jamaica Tallawahs, was also among the batch of coaches certified.
“It was an opportunity I have always wanted. I am hoping this will benefit the players I work with at all levels; to be able to produce the best players for West Indies cricket,” said Richardson who also coaches at the high school level.
Adams noted that producing world class players and winning teams is the number-one objective within CWI’s new five-year strategic plan.
“There is a proven direct correlation between high-level coaching standards and good players and ultimately winning teams,” he said, “and by collaborating with the ECB, this is a great demonstration of how partnerships can help CWI pool resources to increase investment in our great game.”
The team of instructors was led by Tim Dellor from the ECB and he was assisted by West Indians Tony Gray, Jeffrey Dujon, Hendy Springer and Gus Logie. The course was completed in Antigua last November while final assessments were done in Barbados and Grenada in mid-February.
The coaches certified included Vinood Maharaj, Terrance Corke, Brendon Ramjal, Robert Turner, Brian Browne, Zubin Surkari, Stuart Williams, Kulbir Jaswal, Raphael Croney, David Bernard, Keith Charlery, Andrew Richardson, Cleton Burnett, Curtly Ambrose, Calvin Waldron, Ryan Hinds, Clay Smith, Pedro Collins, Reon King, Ricky Clarke, Winston Smith, Dave Marshall, Bharat Mangru, Errol Barrow, and Richard Clarke. (SPORTSMAX)