Courtney Walsh, Rayon Griffith appointed interim assistant coaches for India series

Interim head caoch Gus Logie will be joined by Courtney Walsh (assistant coach), Rayon Griffith and Evril Betty Lewis (team manager).

“We’ve had some of the best minds and coaches in the region working with the players,” said Logie of his new team. “Courtney and Rayon have been working really hard with the ladies at training and we are hoping to see the results on the field.”

Walsh, the former fast bowler, most recently worked as bowling coach of the Bangladesh men’s team. The first bowler to take over 500 wickets in Test cricket, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the support staff.

“My function is to focus a lot more on the bowlers and the cricket in general to get the ladies together,” said Walsh of his appointment. “I’m just happy to be able to work with Gus - we haven’t had a chance to be on the same team since we were players and we just want the women to play the type of cricket we know they can play.”

“The ladies have been very warm and receptive and listened to what I’ve got to say. They are not afraid of trying and implementing what I’ve been telling them. I think one of the advantages I have, is that I was involved in women’s cricket before as a selector and I was part of a couple of their training camps, so they know me and they’ve seen me around. They know I want the best for them and they appreciate that, so for me it’s a plus coming back into the fold of the women’s team now.”

Griffith, the former Guyana batsman, recently worked as the assistant coach of the West Indies men’s team for the 2019 World Cup in England. He also coached the Guyana Amazon Warriors during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Lewis, former manager of Barbados, comes with a background in management and is hopeful of carrying out her duties to the best of her ability.

“As a former career tourism official and manager of the Barbados senior women’s cricket team, I am comfortable operating in the critical role as the interim manager of the West Indies women’s team,” she stated. “I intend to bring a high level of trust, effective communication and instill a greater sense of purpose, hinged on discipline and professionalism, that the players can transfer onto the field of play.”

Jimmy Adams, CWI Director of Cricket, added that he is happy with the appointment of the support staff and believes they will positively influence the growth and development of the women’s team.

"I am confident that our entire support staff, under Gus’ leadership and direction, is capable of driving our women’s cricket forward whilst we begin the search for a permanent head coach,” Adams admitted. “Gus has been involved with the program for the past two years and both Rayon and Courtney bring with them a strong working knowledge of what it takes to be successful at the elite level.”

West Indies are scheduled to play three ODIs - part of the ICC women’s ODI championship - and five T20Is against India at home before their next assignment ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup against Pakistan.