WICB Media Release
ST JOHN’S, Antigua (WICB) — Newly appointed head coach of the senior national cricket team, Ridley Jacobs, said that with the assistance of his “experienced” management staff, the national training squad will be put through a series of endurance and technical exercises this week.
The former West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman said this is important as they seek to assess the players and the amount of work needed ahead of two LICA tournaments slated to bowl off this month.
“We want to see how fit the players are, to see if they have been doing any work and then and then we actually go into a net session where we have them batting and bowling, preparing them for the tournament,” he said.
“I think John Archibald will be more of a mentor, speaking to the players on certain things and Pernell Watley will be on the actual field with me and working with these players. (Watley) is a fast bowling coach so he will assist me with the fast bowlers … Archibald would assist me with the spinners because he (has) done a bit of bowling so we have a good group working with,” he added.
Jacobs was appointed coach last week after being selected from a batch of seven applicants for the job. Former Windies and national fast bowler Kenneth “Flipper” Benjamin and former Leeward Islands captain, Wilden “Polo” Cornwall had also applied for the job.
“I met the players on Friday and hopefully we start working today (Monday). We went and got the pitch prepared today, so hopefully we will start doing some work … at Factory because the Sir Viv Richards stadium will not be ready until probably weekend …,” he said.
Antigua & Barbuda will compete in both the LICA Three-Day and NAGICO One-Day tournaments.
Antigua opens its Three-Day campaign on September 18 while the One Day competition bowls off on September 21. Both matches will be at home against Montserrat.