King expects no easy WI ride

LONDON: Australian Bennett King expects no easy ride when he takes up the arduous task of reviving West Indies’ cricket fortunes, after he was named the new team coach in place of Gus Logie. King is on a three-year contract and arrives on the back of a highly successful spell as head of the Cricket Academy in Australia, the leading institution of its kind in the cricket world. “I certainly don’t think there will be a honeymoon period,” he said. “There will be no settling in. But you see some good things that are happening now, so it’s not a bad time to be going in.” King’s appointment was announced on Sunday when the West Indies Cricket Board also disclosed that former West Indies off-spin bowler Tony Howard would continue in his post as manager and the legendary Sir Garfield Sobers would work as Technical Consultant.

“My charter is to make a famous national side get back into the headlines for all the right reasons,” he said. “Certainly, in terms of international cricket, it was an opportunity that was very hard to turn down.  I have always said that the raw talent which the West Indies possesses is equal to any country in the world and I look forward to this assignment not least because it gives me a chance to aid in the development of players at all levels.” King joined the Australian academy two years ago after leading Queensland to two Sheffield Shield titles (1999-2000 and 2000-01) and two limited-overs finals (1999-2000 and 2001-02) during his three years at the helm. He and fellow Aussie David Moore, the new West Indies assistant coach, are expected to complete their roles at the Academy in mid-November before taking up their positions in the Caribbean. (CMC)