… Edwards, Williams named separate national captains
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Ryan Hinds has been axed as Barbados captain for the upcoming WICB Regional Super50 competition and next year’s WICB Regional first-class championship. In an unprecedented move, the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) has appointed separate captains for the two competitions, naming West Indies batsman Kirk Edwards for next year’s first-class championship, and all-rounder Kenroy Williams for the Super50 from October 18 to 29 in Guyana.
“At present, we are on a developmental mission, and took into consideration all of the factors concerning all of the possible candidates,” said chairman of the National Selection Panel, George Linton, at a media conference on Wednesday.
“We felt it was better to let some of the senior players concentrate on their cricket. We are hoping that the senior players will give him the fullest cooperation.”
Hinds had a recent, highly-publicised encounter in Barbados with the law, but BCA officials denied that had anything to do with his demotion.
He is currently on US$1 250 bail for charges of assault, criminal damage, reckless driving, dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention, driving without reasonable consideration, and failure to report an accident.
“Any personal off-the-field issues Ryan has had do not have anything to do with our decision, and you can quote me on this,” said BCA Chief Executive Officer Deighton Smith.
“If you see Ryan right now, physically he is a different person. He actually trains at Kensington Oval four days a week.
“We believe – and Ryan believes – he has every right to play for West Indies again because he is the best all-rounder in the Caribbean.”
Edwards has had limited captaincy experience, but Williams has been groomed for the position, having been a former Under-19 captain, as well as captain of his club side St Catherine and Barbados Select teams over the years.
Williams is arguably the best off-spin bowling all-rounder in the island, and has knocked hard on the door over the years, but strangely had not been given the nod.
It was also announced that former Barbados off-spinner Henderson Springer, currently an assistant coach with West Indies in England, will take up a new appointment as Team Director.
Springer is currently the BCA’s Director of Coaching, and will have responsibility for not only managing the team, but also looking after the strategic planning, and on-field direction of the team.
Emmerson Trotman, a former Barbados middle-order batsman, has been named batting coach, and former Barbados and West Indies fast bowling all-rounder Vasbert Drakes is the new bowling coach.
A video analyst was also appointed to accompany the side, as Barbados strive to regain past glories in this coming regional season.
The 2012 regional first-class championship is set for March 6 to May 7, following the Caribbean T20 tournament to be played in Trinidad and Barbados from January 9 to 22.
Barbados are the joint-defending Super50 champions with Leeward Islands, and finished sixth out of eight teams in the first-class championship.