Richardson welcomes Volcanoes challenge

Jamaican Andrew Richardson has been appointed head coach of the Windward Islands Volcanoes franchise for the upcoming regional first-class season.

The 38-year-old succeeds another Jamaican, Andre Coley, who is now the head coach of the Jamaica Scorpions franchise.

Richardson got the nod for the post after Trinidadian Samuel Badree, who was the initial number-one pick, turned down the offer due to work commitments in Trinidad and Tobago.

For Richardson, the new role is one that he has been relishing for some time.

“I am honoured to have been chosen as the Volcanoes coach, having been an assistant for the Scorpions for the past two seasons. It’s a role I believe I can do well in, and I aim to build a young squad and grow the cricket,” Richardson told The Sunday Gleaner.

Having recently returned from his managerial stint with the Jamaica Tallawahs in the just-concluded Caribbean Premier League, Richardson says preparations have not been ideal, but one thing that has gone well is the reception from his new team members.

“The reception has been fantastic. The senior players are glad to have me in the set-up, but we have had to work around some challenges with the weather affecting our preparations, but we have experienced players such as Devon Smith and others who can help us to win games, and I can tell you, my aim is to win games and win trophies as I only play to win, and that is my number-one goal,” added Richardson.

The former national fast bowler who signed a contract up to 2021, has been overseeing the team’s preparations for the upcoming Super 50 Cup, which begins the first week in November.

The Windwards have been drawn alongside the Guyana Jaguars, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, the West Indies Emerging Players team as well as the USA in Zone ‘B’, which will be played in Trinidad.