West named as Ireland’s new director of high performance

DUBLIN, Ireland (CMC):

Cricket West Indies’ (CWI’s) outgoing High Performance Manager, Graeme West, will take up a new role as Cricket Ireland’s director of high performance.

Cricket Ireland made the announcement on Thursday, revealing that West was set to join the organisation in October.

Cricket Ireland’s chief executive Warren Deutrom said West was the ideal candidate for the position.

“We knew that, in order to be successful in this new role, the candidate required leadership experience, exceptional people skills, and the ability to be a mentor as much as a manager. In Graeme, we believe we have found that candidate,” Deutrom said.

West, who joined CWI on June 1, 2012 as the head coach of the High Performance Centre at Cave Hill, Barbados, departs his current role of high performance manager on September 30.

West spent five years based at the High Performance Centre, Cave Hill, Barbados and seven years at the CWI headquarters at Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG), Antigua.

He served as the West Indies Under-19 men’s head coach from 2016 to 2020, leading the team to World Cup success in 2016.

OTHER APPOINTMENT

West also served as head coach of the West Indies ‘A’ team from 2016 to 2018.

As the high performance manager, he was instrumental in establishing the new men’s and women’s academy programmes at CCG and the new 12-month Under-19 Pathway Programmes.

CWI’s Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, thanked West for his contribution to cricket in the region.

“I sincerely thank Graeme for his 12 years of service to West Indies cricket. He has contributed significantly to the development of our high-performance system and has overseen many initiatives that we will continue to grow after he departs.

“We are grateful for his years of commitment and wish him the best as he turns the page to a new chapter in his career,” Bascombe said.

West, an Englishman, said he had enjoyed his time at CWI over the last decade.

“I would like to thank CWI for the opportunities provided to me and my family over the last 12 years. I leave the organisation as a more experienced coach, a more rounded leader, and a World Cup winner.

“Equally important to me are the relationships I have developed with players, coaches and the staff that have supported me throughout my time at CWI and I am sure will continue to do so in the future,” West said.

“My time spent in the Caribbean will forever hold a special place in my heart. My wife and I have raised our children on the beaches of Barbados and Antigua and we have thoroughly enjoyed and embraced the many cultures and diversity across the region.”