Some folk may jump to a conclusion that the selection of Jimmy Adams as the new West Indies cricket coach has a tint of partisanship or patriotism, him being a Jamaican like Dave Cameron the controversial Chairman of the WICB and Wavel Hinds of WIPA.
However, for those who have been following the game in the West Indies over the past decade or more, they will recall the performances of Jimmy Adams.
In the first place, his personality is indication of a disciplined person, his batting sends the message that his organized approach to plan innings and attempt strokes which he is quite capable of playing. His appearance on the field bears resemblance of someone who is prepared to give his best and maybe even share ideas with his fellow players.
His level of intelligence will have seen him successfully through his stints as a coach in England over the past five years and may just be the recipe as to modern methods of dealing with management.
Many are already hoping that the WICB will desist from their previously unethical behavioral patterns similar to previous experiences with Phil Simmons, and those who seemed to have been driven to anger like those high profile players who have been forced into choosing other routes towards the great game.
It is difficult to assess the ability of the current list of selectors whose records are moderate in comparison of the bracketed bunch of super stars of yesteryear.
Maybe this appropriate decision to choose Adams to direct our Cricket, would appear to me that a proven west Indian coach may provide the local knowledge which someone like Gus Logie can bring to the table, together with his vast experience of the finer points of the game.
I am not an advocate of having selectors decide which team should take the field when they could never be the decisionmakers during the course of the game. They cannot predict the mindset of the director of cricket or the head coach, both of whom will always be prepared to give more work hours on and off the field to bring our players to the mental focus which international cricket demands.
I am not surprised that the deep seated practice of colonialism may have led the board into the path of Stuart Law, a “not so well known” Australian on the cricket field and one who will have to spend some extra time to understand the various cultural differences of West Indian people, their flamboyant approach to the game, which have brought the region the extraordinary talents of people like Sir Garry sobers, Sir Viv Richards, Brian Lara, Rohan Kanhai, not to forget the outstanding cricketer and leader of West indies cricket par excellence.
Despite the changing of the guards in the technical department of WI cricket, the job to correct the administrative sector is more vital if the game is to return to the top of the world ranking. Good luck, Jimmy Adams.