TTCB – News

Top local cricket officials say Gibson will do well
February 2, 2010

LOCAL cricket officials unanimously agree that former Barbadian and West Indies fast bowler Otis Gibson will do well as new West Indies cricket coach.

They say he will receive the support of the regional players— more than the international coaches who preceded him.

The top cricket administrators— Azim Bassarath, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB); Dudnath Ramkeessoon- chief national selector; and Rangy Nanan, former national captain and West Indies spinner said Gibson could inspire the regional team, particularly in the bowling department.

AZIM BASSARATH

RANGY NANAN

DUDNATH RAMKESSOON

Bassarath who ousted Deryck Murray at the helm of local cricket last October, said that Gibson has had tremendous successes as a player/coach at English County side Durham as well as coach of the English team.

And it is expected that he will transfer those skills to the struggling regional team.

However Bassarath admitted he was a bit disappointed with the non-appointment of David Williams at the helm. He credits the Trinidadian with having a tremendous part to play in the development of the regional team especially on the recent tour of Australia.

Bassarath is also predicting that Gibson will do particularly well because he knows the culture of the regional team and players. “He did well as a bowler and now as a bowling coach in England, so I think that the players will look up to him,” Bassarath said.

He said that Gibson’s appointment comes when key players Fidel Edwards of Barbados and Jerome Taylor of Jamaica have been ruled out of the coming One-Day International and Twenty/20 tour of Australia. “I think Gibson will help the younger players especially the bowlers.”

Bassarath said the Gibson appointment is timely since much work needs top be done in the bowling aspect of the game if the regional team is to do well.

“Our batsmen can be compared to the best batsmen in the world right now, so I think most of his work will be done in the bowling,” Bassarath said.

Top selector Ramkessoon said yesterday he was “confused” by the non-selection of Williams at the top job in regional cricket. However he said the selectors must have taken into consideration the international experiences of Gibson.

Gibson gave up his job as bowling coach of the English to take up a job that he applied for two years ago without success.

He was on Monday appointed the head coach by the regional board, following the sacking of Australian John Dyson last year and the temporary appointment of Williams as the acting West Indies coach.

The 40-year old Barbadian has played two Tests and 15 One-Day International matches for the regional team.

“Gibson would better be able to relate to the West Indian culture and as a result the players would have more respect for him,” said Ramkeessoon.

Meanwhile Nanan told Newsday yesterday that while Williams had been doing an excellent job he expects Gibson to get more respect out of the players.

“He must have been given the edge over Williams due to his international experience and I think that he will do well particularly in the bowling aspects of the game for the West Indies team,” Nanan said.