Former WI cricketer calls for more focus on coaching

Former Jamaica and West Indies player Nehemiah Perry says there is an urgent need to lift the standard of the cricket coaching in Jamaica.

Perry told The Gleaner this week that there is a desperate need for more qualified coaches to help with the development of the sport in the country.

"It is serious," said Perry. "I am on Cricket West Indies' cricket committee and it is a discussion that we have had for many years," he said.

"I believe that coaching is the way forward because the days are over when you can have makeshift PE (physical education) teachers doing the various sports, and so what you want now are specialists," Perry said.

Certification vital

"We need certified cricket coaches even up to level three in coaching, and so this is the way forward to ensure that Jamaica and West Indies cricket continues to improve," said Perry who played four Tests and 21 one-day internationals for the West Indies.

He added that Jamaica has fallen behind its regional counterparts in terms of the structuring and the development of cricketers.

"It starts at the schools. If your school cricket is good, then you get good cricketers in the clubs and then ultimately, you get good cricketers playing for your country," Perry said.

Hosts Jamaica recently finished third in the regional Under-15 tournament, and Perry stated that he has seen marginal improvement in the youngsters' approach to the game, but there is a still a lot of work to be done.