With Cricket West Indies (CWI) searching for solutions after the team’s Test series against Australia, former national batsman Mark Neita says the return of former Head Coach Andre Coley could be one of the ways for the team to improve its fortunes.

The Windies were swept 3-0 by the visiting Aussies earlier this month, including an infamous 176-run defeat at Sabina Park where they were bowled out for 27, the lowest Test total in 70 years and the second lowest in the history of the near 150-year format.

Since the loss, CWI President Dr Kishore Shallow called an emergency meeting and invited legends Brian Lara, Sir Vivian Richards, and Sir Clive Lloyd to review the performances and make recommendations on the way forward.

It was Daren Sammy’s debut red-ball series since taking over from Coley, who ended his near-two-year stint in January. Many around the Caribbean have since called for the removal of Sammy.

Neita says Sammy should not be fired, but says Coley would take much of the burden off Sammy’s shoulders.

“Somebody like Andre Coley has to get back into it,” he tells the
Jamaica Observer. “He was an outstanding coach, did very well with this team. You want to bring people with a history of success, particularly working with the team.”

Neita says Coley would make a difference to the back room staff compared to assistant coach with responsibility for batting Floyd Reifer.

“Reifer’s credibility, I don’t think is particularly high, because he’s been involved with the team for many years and was given responsibility as coach and I don’t think he credited himself very well in that role,” Neita says. “I can’t see how you’re going to have a team of coaches around the players and Andre Coley isn’t in it.

“Under Coley’s stewardship, the West Indies did exceptionally well in Australia and Pakistan — where we haven’t won in a couple decades. For you to just unceremoniously remove him from the set-up is a big mistake.”

Former West Indies and Jamaica wicketkeeper batsman Jeff Dujon also disagrees with Coley’s lack of involvement with the current Test team set-up.

“As far as I’m concerned, Andre Coley did a very good job and he has been just passed aside,” he says. “I was very hurt about that, because he has the credentials. He’s very experienced, and I think he was getting somewhere, and he actually lost his place after having a good series.”

Coley is now serving as a high-performance consultant for Bermuda and could lead the Windies ‘A’ team, as hinted previously by CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe.

Along with Coley’s removal as head coach, CWI also changed the selection system, which saw the removal of a board of selectors. There are now senior talent managers, territorial talent identifiers, and a network of scouts who will help to identify talent through a data-based approach, with Sammy having the final say as chief selector across all formats.

Neita, though, believes the new approach isn’t beneficial and is proving too much for Sammy to handle.

“Somebody who makes all the decisions when it concerns who plays, not only in a Test match but T20 and 50 over — that kind of power is unheard of in cricket, certainly in the West Indies,” he says. “I don’t think one man should have that responsibility. I’m not saying Sammy shouldn’t be part of the selection process, because he, too, has had a history of success, having won two [T20] World Cups, but you need balance.

“You need objective views in a selection room. You should have people come with different opinions coming together and based on the discussion of three or four, this is how the team should look and you have a consensus.

“When you have all that on one man’s shoulders, I think it’s too much. I’m not advocating for the sacking of Sammy, but I’m advocating that things change. Go back to the more traditional way of selecting Tests, One-Day, and T20 teams. Have a panel of selectors, of which Sammy can be the chairman.”

Former West Indies Test Coach Andre Coley (Photo: CWI Media)

West Indies’ Head Coach Daren Sammy looks disappointed after his team went down by eight wickets to Australia in the second T20 match at Sabina Park on Tuesday, July 22. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

NEITA … I can’t see how you’re going to have a team of coaches around the players and Andre Coley isn’t in it .

DUJON… Andre Coley did a very good job and he has been just passed aside. I was very hurt about that, because he has the credentials. 

West Indies tail-ender batter Jayden Seales (right) is bowled by Australia’s Mitchell Starc while his teammate Alzarri Joseph (left) looks on on day-three at the end of their third and final Test match at Sabina Park in Kingston on Monday, July 14. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)