Coaches support CWI’s move to construct High Performance Campus

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

Several of the region’s best coaches have thrown their full support behind Cricket West Indies’ (CWI’s) plans to develop a High-Performance Campus in Antigua.

It was recently announced that the Antigua & Barbuda government had given the green light for CWI to construct the campus at the site of the Coolidge Cricket Ground.

The project will be implemented in phases between 2026 and 2030 and will see the redevelopment of the 20-acre campus in Coolidge, to create a fully integrated ecosystem for elite cricket development, sports science, education, and commercial activity.

Coaches on the front lines of the ongoing West Indies Championship have applauded the move, saying that it is critical to the future of West Indies cricket.

Former West Indies selector and now head coach of the Jamaica Scorpions, Robert Haynes, believes the planned facility is essential.

“I think it’s a magnificent idea. When I was a selector, it was always spoken about in terms of having something for the youngsters. I think it’s a magnificent effort by the Antiguan government and Cricket West Indies to get this going, because we need it,” Haynes said.

“With limited first-class games available, you need your younger players to be in a system that you can depend on because, in international cricket, everybody else has a High-Performance Centre.”

Head coach of the Windward Volcanoes, Keon Peters echoed that sentiment, noting that the region’s challenge is not a lack of ability, but the absence of the structures needed to maximise it.

“With the amount of talent that we have, for us to compete against the other international teams, we must have this in place. We know resources have been difficult for us, and I think it’s a good initiative by Cricket West Indies. It’s never too late to start,” Peters noted.

Rayad Emrit, head coach of Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, explained that while talent development was critical, there was the need for a stronger system to carry players beyond the youth level.

“I honestly think there’s a lot of talent in the Caribbean coming through from Under-19, but, after Under-19, a lot of them fade away and we don’t get those core players coming through the system.

“I think we have enough players who have natural talent, and one of the main factors for us not producing the players that we thought we would have is the facilities,” Emrit said.

Meanwhile, Leeward Islands Hurricanes head coach Steve Liburd believes exposure to such an environment will be transformative.

“Across the world, there are lots of High Performance Centres all around and they reap benefits for younger players over time.

“Having such a centre will be beneficial for West Indies cricket on a whole, with players being exposed to technology, having a place where they can go and do media work and develop their skills,” Liburd maintained.

Head coach of the Guyana Harpy Eagles, Ryan Hercules contended the initiative was long overdue.

“This is something overdue but, whenever it’s here, it’s here. When that starts, we will probably start seeing a change in West Indies cricket,” Hercules said.

Former West Indies fast bowler and current Barbados Pride head coach Vasbert Drakes believes that while the campus is a major step, the broader goal must be a region-wide uplift in infrastructure and systems.

“I think it would be great if all the franchises in the Caribbean would be in a position where they can have a high-performance system, because we have tremendous talent and we want a better pathway system for them.

“It is good to see that the West Indies is going in that direction, but I would also like to encourage all of the territorial boards to find a way through government and local sponsors to make it work,” Drakes said.