Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor
A DIFFERENT line will be bowled by the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) in its process to find a new coach for the national senior team, as the board will not advertise the position.
"We feel that rather than advertise for it we're going to look down and pick people or a person who we feel may be a good replacement," JCA president Jackie Hendriks told The Gleaner.
Robert Haynes, who held the coaching position since late 1998 when he prepared Jamaica's team for the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, resigned earlier this month.
MISERABLE PERFORMANCE
His decision followed the team's miserable performance in the Carib Beer Series where Jamaica finished last in the six-team standings on 12 points, all earned in the first two matches.
Hendriks said the association was "disappointed" with that finish.
"We're greatly disappointed in the performance of our teams in the regional competitions, Carib Beer and one-dayers," he said.
Pointing to outstanding finishes the previous season when Jamaica took the double by winning the Carib Beer Series and Challenge Shield, Hendriks added that "...we need to be more consistent".
Despite the fact that the JCA will change its method of selection, Hendriks says the criteria remain the same.
"They have to have the qualifications and commitment and be prepared to work hard and espouse the philosophy that we're looking at," he said.
That philosophy involves a strong focus on attracting youngsters to the sport.
Hendriks said: "We're very conscious that our youth, under-13s and so forth, have a lot of things to do. There are so many things going on these days... we want to get them more interested in playing cricket more than other sports, put them on the right line, teach them the fundamentals and encourage them to play cricket."
Continuing to comment on the coach's role, he added: "We want them to teach them to play cricket. We certainly want to encourage kids to come and play cricket and as they move up the ladder they'll become more in tune with the physical aspects of the game, so that when they reach the age of 17 you're not teaching them the basics of cricket again. So you move into the more technical aspects, with strategies, how you ready the game and so forth."
GOOD LOOK
Responding to the query of whether the JCA had already decided on its new coach, Hendriks stated: "Not yet. This is what we're at the moment embarking on. We're still having a good look and we hope that in the not too distant future we'll arrive at a decision."
Is the JCA looking overseas for a coach as well?
"No, not at this time," Hendriks admitted. "We feel that certainly at this stage we want to have a local flavour in our cricket. At the moment we really don't have any sort of intention of getting anyone from overseas on a permanent basis. This is not to say that we won't use overseas coaches, but it won't be for a permanent thing, maybe once or two times a year."
