Joel Garner appointed as West Indies team manager

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has appointed Joel Garner as the team manager for a three-year period and he has joined the squad for the upcoming Test series against India.

Garner had served as the interim manager from 2009 to 2010, which included the World T20. The 63-year old was also the director of the West Indies Cricket Board, president of the Barbados Cricket Association and the West Indies A team manager in the past.

The former cricketer is more than happy to take up the job as he wanted to be with the squad and share his knowledge and experience with the youngsters. “I always answer the call in West Indies cricket,” Garner said.

“It is always an honour to serve in any capacity in West Indies cricket and I’m pleased to be back with the team as manager to share my knowledge and experience to the team and be an ambassador for West Indies cricket and the region,” he added.

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Garner was a part of the West Indies side for 58 Test matches and 98 One Day Internationals before retiring in 1987. He was an integral part of the West Indies team that won the World Cup in 1979.

Earlier, a month ago WICB had named former West Indies wicketkeeper Courtney Browne as the new chairman of selectors, replacing the former captain Clive Lloyd who held the position since August 2014. Lloyd, meanwhile, will serve as the West Indies Cricket Board’s ‘special ambassador’. He will be “responsible for being a spokesperson for the Board at special events in and out of the region”.

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West Indies begin their four-match Test series against India in North Sound on July 21. The Indian team has played two warm-up matches against West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI and both the matches ended in a draw.