BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Outspoken Barbados Cricket Association President Conde Riley has thrown his support behind batting legend Desmond Haynes to become the next West Indies men’s head coach.

Haynes and former Head Coach Phil Simmons lead the race to be the next full-time head Coach of the West Indies men’s team, with current interim coach Floyd Reifer also making the shortlist.

Cricket West Indies said on Tuesday that Haynes, Reifer, and Simmons emerged from a list of six candidates that took part in the initial interview process which concluded last Monday — and there will now be a final round of interviews to be completed by October 11.

“I think he understands batsmanship and that is an area that we have been failing in,” Riley said in an interview with Weekend Nation newspaper here.

“Based on experience, he would be a good choice. I think Desmond has a lot to offer. All three of the candidates for the job are suitable. I wish them well, but Haynes would be my pick.”

The 63-year-old Haynes is a former West Indies captain and one half of the most durable opening partnership in the history of the international game with Gordon Greenidge.

He brings the wealth of a decorated playing career in which he scored 7,487 runs in 116 Tests and 8,648 runs in 238 One-day Internationals between 1978 and 1994.

Haynes has worked briefly with the Windies men’s team previously in the post of batting consultant, when Ottis Gibson was head coach and has had coaching stints with several Twenty20 franchise sides in recent times.

He has also held coaching stints with Sussex in England and Western Province in South Africa.