New WI coach wants to change team culture

ST JOHN’S: New West Indies coach Bennett King, of Australia, arrived here Monday night to start a three-year contract. The West Indies Cricket Board’s Chief Executive Officer Roger Brathwaite, Chief Cricket Operating officer Zorol Barthley and communication director, Leonard Robertson, welcomed King and his assistant David Moore. King told reporters that his first task would be getting to know the players during the three-week training camp starting next Monday in Barbados where 25 players will seek to impress him ahead of the triangular one-day series in Australia next month-end. “Just getting to know the players, their personalities. But also how they play their cricket and go about their cricket are some of the initial things I would be looking at from a playing prospective,” he said. “For the next couple of days while I’m here in Antigua I’ll be looking at some of the structures the West Indies Cricket Board has in place for the West Indies team.”

King said he is desirous of changing the culture in the team. “I think that they (the players) will be showing a lot of passion for the game,” he said.  “I think there will be a lot of enjoyment within the groups that I work with. I certainly think they will be giving 100 percent whether it be at training or play (matches). “I guess I’ve two rules: to be punctual and train and play as hard as you can. Those are my rules. You do those sorts of things and everything will be fine. I’m certainly sure you will see a very committed side.” King’s contract runs up to the 2007 World Cup to be held in the Caribbean and he is not predicting the Windies will reach the final in three years time. “What I do know is that in the space of three years I know the players will be trying as hard as they can and they will be a committed unit.  They will all be working for the same treasure I guess.”

As the first overseas coach of the Windies, King said he is looking forward to working with other regional coaches. “I certainly think that there is a career path for coaches,” said the former head coach cricket academy in Australia. “One of the things I’m very strong on is that coaches work together, they don’t work separately. I believe that countries in the West Indies should pull as one. I’ve seen a lot of quotes in papers and a lot history surrounding West Indies and its culture but I believe if you want to move the sport forward (and the sport is something we all passionate about) then truly the coaches will come together and we will all move towards one direction. “I’ll be encouraging the First-Class coaches of the sides to be involved in some way, shape or form.” Ex-West Indies captain and great all-rounder Sir Gary Sobers will work in an advisory role with King, who is a former Queensland and Cricket Academy in Australia coach. (CMC)