Gray, the man with the solutions

On debut he grabbed 4/39 against Pakistan for the West Indies and all hailed a new hero on the scene. However a few seasons later Anthony Hollis Gray will be beset by injuries and questionable selections and a promising career as a fast bowler was ended. The lanky Gray however used this in a positive way and when others would have turned away bitterly from the game, he decided to help others. “I am not boasting but I know this game really well and I was disappointed that my opportunities at the Test level was limited. I however got 39 wickets and this was still something to be cheerful about.” After his retirement from the game Gray took up a position with the Ministry of Sport as a cricket coach. He also got himself heavily involved with coaching and took a keen interest in collecting data to make his ambition a reality. Soon he was noticed by the West Indies Cricket Board and given a chance to work at the Shell Cricket Academy in Grenada. After this stint he was taken in as coach of the national Under-19 cricket team and immediately took them to the runners-up spot. His most defining moment came in 2003 when he guided Trinidad and Tobago to the unique double title in the regional Under-19 cricket championships.

He was then gifted with a stint as coach of the senior Trinidad and Tobago team at the Red Stripe Bowl and won rave reviews from the players and members of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB). Only this week Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the TTCB, Alloy Lequay and national team manager Omar Khan made a public call for Gray to be made coach of the West Indies Under-19 team for the World Cup in Bangladesh. One official had mentioned to the panel choosing the coach for the tour that Gray was the best possible candidate for the position and to his amazement the Board member didn’t even want to hear his name. Gray believes that there is a calculated plot against him, as insularity continues to plague the game in the Caribbean. The 40-year-old however has a plan for his detractors and that plan is to let his performance do the talking. “I am not someone to demand things for myself, I believe that I must first achieve and get the results out and then let others take note and give me what they think is just. My duty is to the game and to help all those under my wings to develop their game.” Roland Sampath who was coach of the national Under-19 team this year described Gray as: “A person who can get the best out of his charges. He knows the game very well and has taken an interest in the sport. Let it go on record that I have said Tony Gray is the best man to coach the West Indies Under-19 team for the tour to Bangladesh.”

Gray in the meantime is working on a plan to take the Trinidad and Tobago national team to the Carib Beer title next year. “We have talented players in this country but they need to be more aggressive. That is a cultural problem that we face in Trinidad and Tobago and unless our players can be more hungry and aggressive they will not succeed.” The last time Trinidad and Tobago won the regional first class title was in 1985 under Rangy Nanan. Gray was on that team and now it is the hope of the TTCB that he can take the current crop of players to the coveted title. Gray was born on May 23, 1953 in Belmont and gained his early education at the El Socorro Islamic TIA School. It was then on to the Aranguez Junior secondary, Malick Senior Comprehensive and then finally to St Augustine Senior Comprehensive School. While there he was the school’s goal keeper in the Secondary Schools championships. Gray also has stints playing cricket outside Trinidad and Tobago and was a regular player for London side Surrey in the English championship. After his cricket playing days were over Gray did numerous courses and at present his most precious is the West Indies Cricket Board Advance Coaching Certificate. While not at cricket Gray spends valuable time with his two sons and wife at their Poughhkeepsie Boulevard home in Santa Cruz.