New performance director for Cricket West Indies

Englishman Richard Pybus has made a shock return to West Indies cricket as high-performance director, just over a year after leaving the post of director of cricket.

In the new role, the 53-year-old will be tasked with working with chief selector Courtney Browne, director of cricket, Jimmy Adams and regional coaches to “improve the high-performance programs and standards within franchise cricket.”

Talent identification program

“His role will also include, but not limited to standardizing coaching and preparation for regional teams and overseeing a talent identification program from the Under-19 level all the way to the Windies international level,” Cricket West Indies said in a statement.

Happy to be rejoining

Pybus, who has signed a two-year contract, said he was excited about the task of helping to develop the region’s cricketing resources. “I am delighted to be re-joining Cricket West Indies in this newly created role,” Pybus said.

“I am looking forward to working with Jimmy Adams and the rest of the cricket department to improve standards within a system that I know well.

“My focus will be on developing our high-performance programs and helping to identify and coach the most talented cricketers in the Caribbean.”

Pybus was appointed director of cricket in November 2013 and spent three years in the role before being replaced by former Test captain Adams in January last year.

Overlooked

Since then, Pybus was overlooked for vacant head coach positions with the India, Bangladesh and South Africa national teams. He was in Dhaka last December for an interview with the Bangladesh Cricket Board after being short-listed but was unsuccessful in the end.

Pybus has in the past coached Pakistan and also had a short stint with Bangladesh. He has, however, coached extensively in South Africa at club level.

He was instrumental in overseeing the implementation of the Professional Cricket League in the the Caribbean four years ago.