Desmond Haynes Opens Up On Challenges As West Indies Selector In Modern Era

Legendary opening batter Haynes discussed his ideas and plans to bring back the glorious days of Caribbean cricket, making the Windies an invincible force in all three formats of the game.

Desmond Haynes, Pic Courtesy: Getty Images

New Delhi: Desmond Haynes, the head selector of the West Indies cricket team, opened up about several challenges and issues he faces as an international cricket selector in the modern era. In an exclusive interview with Betway.com, legendary opening batter Haynes discussed his ideas and plans to bring back the glorious days of Caribbean cricket, making the Windies an invincible force in all three formats of the game.

When did you decide that you would like to take on the role of selector for West Indies?

Well, I was selector for Barbados Cricket Association back in the ‘90s, so I'd already had some experience in selecting teams.

When I was approached to do the job I figured that if there's any time that I can give back to West Indies cricket, it’s now.

What do you think are the keys to being a good selector?

Mainly, it’s knowledge of the game, but it’s also identifying talent, because sometimes you can look at stats, and stats don't really show the true picture. If you get the opportunity to see people play, you'll be able to judge their character.

Also just being a professional. As a selector, you never get your own way. Sometimes you want a player and you get outvoted. In the West Indies, it used to be five selectors, now there are only three. You’ve got the co-selector and also the coach.

What are the key pointers you're looking for when you're identifying international players?

You look at the character of the players, you look at the way they’re committed to training and cricket in general.

Obviously, knowledge of the game is very important for me as it allows me to make sure that the players understand the game and are students of the game.

When it comes to performance, how much responsibility do you as a selector take for the results?

When you're a selector, you’re part and parcel of it. We all want the same goals, we all want to do what is right for West Indies cricket, and it's not about any individual.

As a selector, you obviously want to know that the team that you've selected have done well out on the field. We all feel that we have selected the best side to perform. If they don't perform, then obviously we take some of the blame as well.

In the modern game the cricket calendar is busier than it's ever been. How do you approach rest and rotation as a selector?

I think rotation is very important, especially for fast bowlers. The international calendar is so hectic. The tour against England that’s coming up features back-to-back-to-back Test matches.

If you've got four fast bowlers, it's going to be very hard for all of them to play 15 days of cricket straight up. It also allows you to give another guy a game.

It feels as though West Indies are in a good place at the moment. How do you assess the current crop of players?

We’re always going to have talent in the West Indies, we are just a little unfortunate that we don't have the numbers. We can't really compare to places like Australia and India because they've got loads of players playing cricket, with the various academies around those countries.

I do think it’s important for the ICC to look at finding ways that they can assist countries like West Indies, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, those places with limited numbers, to try to find ways to make sure that when they split the pie, some of the smaller countries get a bit more money to help with cricket development.

I think that's something that is vital if you really want to have competitive cricket worldwide.

(With Inputs From Betway.com)