da aposte e ganhe： The liaison officer/resident assistant for the first batch ofgraduates at the Shell Cricket Academy of St George’s University feelsthat time has come for regional authorities to hire a foreign coach
Haydn Gill23-Aug-2001The liaison officer/resident assistant for the first batch ofgraduates at the Shell Cricket Academy of St George’s University feelsthat time has come for regional authorities to hire a foreign coach.Dwain Gill, a former Barbados Under-16 and Combined Schools Southcaptain, made the telling comment after observing the impressionAustralian coaches Bennett King and Terry Oliver created on the 23students.Based on the evidence provided at the academy, it appears that forsome reason young West Indian players respond more positively to anoverseas coach than someone of their own, Gill said.The response was tremendous. It is something that I have not seenthroughout the Caribbean. What was interesting was that neither coachhas Test experience, but the players responded to them as though theywere gods.In emphasising his point, Gill pointed to the success that foreignfootball coaches have gained with the Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobagofootball teams.The Grenada-born Gill, who grew up in Barbados and captained theCombermere team that won the 1990 BET Under-15 Championship, was alsofascinated by the quality of coaching King and Oliver brought to theacademy.The Australians bring a scientific and more modern approach tocoaching, he said.Australia’s cricket is not strong by accident but because theirprogrammes are more scientifically-orientated and the coaches are morescientifically aware of the demands of modern cricket.The communication skills and the strict level of discipline instilledby King and Oliver also stood out.Coaches nowadays always tell players how to do something, but theydon’t tell them why. They were able to do this effectively, Gill said.He, however, still made it clear that Caribbean coaches had a role toplay.West Indian coaches may have the skills and knowledge, but I am notsure if they can get it across in the correct way and I am not sure ifthe players will respond positively to them, he said.They can make some contribution. They can be advisors because theyhave played the game before and played it the West Indian way.Gill, a recent graduate of St George’s University with a bachelor’sdegree in business administration, said the progress of the studentswas noticeable.When the players first arrived, I got the impression that a lot ofthem thought it was a holiday, he said.After a couple weeks into the programme, one could observe a distinctchange in attitude, moreso than in cricket skills.The work ethic improved tremendously and by the time they left, theywere not only different players, but different individuals.Gill hoped that the graduates would be able to pass on some of theirknowledge to their coaches and clubs, as well as develop on what theylearnt.Going through the academy won’t make you a Test player overnight, butthe players would now have the skills and know-how about what isrequired to play at the highest level, he said.It is up to them to go back to their territories and work on theirstrengths, weaknesses, and so on.