Despite moving on from Andre Coley as head coach of the West Indies’ Men’s Test team, Cricket West Indies (CWI) Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe says the Jamaican can still contribute to the development of cricket in the region.

Coley is set to end a two-year tenure as red-ball head coach with a two-Test series away to Pakistan this month. He is to be replaced by Daren Sammy, who has coached the West Indies white-ball teams since 2023.

Despite a famous Test series draw against Australia early 2024, the Caribbean side is currently eighth in the world. West Indies failed to win any of the six Test series under Coley, losing to South Africa twice, England, and India.

Bascombe, however, says Coley can contribute to the success of West Indies cricket in a different role.

“Definitely we will try our best to see how we can keep Andre Coley in the picture. He has done some very commendable work and he’s one of the best coaches we have in the region, easily, so we definitely do not have the resources to disregard somebody of his calibre,” he said on the Mason & Guest show in Barbados.

In an interview with the Jamaica Observer last month, Coley said a platform has been laid for his successor.

“There have been some bright sparks and some consistencies in a number of different areas, [though] maybe not all at the same time climaxing in consistent wins. But I believe that I am leaving the team in a place where there are more than enough resources there now that if they continue to be channelled in the right way they can emerge and develop into a winning side,” Coley said.

However, Bascombe feels that there wasn’t a clear direction established for the team, which resulted in them turning to Sammy.

“[Sammy] has shown across the two formats that he’s been able to lay out a path, chart a course for the team, and show progress in that direction, and I think that’s what we’re missing in our test team at the moment,” said Bascombe.

“We haven’t really found an identity, we can’t clearly see a way forward, a plan to move forward.”

Coley also told the Observer that it was difficult to attract One-Day International and Twenty20 players to play for the Test team, but Bascombe is hoping that Sammy can make a breakthrough, citing his relationship with the players.

“Certainly, if the course he charts includes getting some of the players from the white-ball [team]; if he has the capacity to get that done, it’s something that we will welcome,” Bascombe said.

“While some guys are pigeon-holed as white-ball players, we definitely recognise they have skill sets that could benefit us in Test cricket.”

Coley’s final series with the Windies bowls off on January 16 in the first Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

Sammy’s reign as head coach of the Test team is set for mid-year when West Indies host Australia in a three-Test series.

Andre Coley, the outgoing West Indies Test cricket coach (Photo: CWI Media)

BASCOMBE… he [Coley] has done some very commendable work and he’s one of the best coaches we have in the region

Tevin Imlach (Photo: PCB Media)

Shamar Joseph (left) of West Indies successfully appeals for LBW against Temba Bavuma of South Africa during day one of the second Test match at Guyana National Stadium in Providence on August 15, 2024. (Photo: AFP)