Robert Samuels Appointed Interim Head Coach for West Indies Women's Cricket Team

In an exciting development for West Indies women's cricket, former West Indies batter Robert Samuels has been named as the interim head coach for the upcoming limited-overs series against Ireland. The decision was made following the non-renewal of contracts for the previous coaching staff, including assistant coach Corey Collymore and head coach Courtney Walsh, by Cricket West Indies (CWI) in April.

Robert Samuels, who had been serving as the assistant coach under Walsh, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Having represented West Indies in six Tests and eight ODIs between 1996 and 1997, Samuels is no stranger to the demands and intricacies of international cricket. Additionally, he has an impressive record in domestic cricket, having played 106 first-class matches and 77 List A games.

Expressing confidence in Samuels' abilities, CWI High Performance Manager Graeme West praised the appointment, highlighting the coach's familiarity with the players and the women's game in general. West emphasized the seamless transition Samuels provides, given his strong knowledge of the support staff. Samuels, with his own set of ideas, aims to make a significant impact as the Interim Head Coach and has already begun implementing his strategies during the team's preparations for the series.

To support Samuels in his new role, the coaching staff will include former West Indies offspinner Ryan Austin as the interim assistant coach, alongside Steve Liburd, the head coach of the West Indies Women's Under-19 Rising Stars and former Leeward Islands captain. The trio is determined to contribute to the team's success in the series against Ireland, which holds significant importance as part of the Women's Championship. The tournament serves as a pathway to the World Cup in 2025, with the top five teams directly qualifying for the prestigious event.

Currently positioned second from the bottom on the 10-team table, the West Indies women's team faces a crucial challenge to secure their spot in the World Cup. The series against Ireland consists of three ODIs scheduled from June 26 to July 2, followed by three T20Is from July 5 to 9. All six matches will be held at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia. The West Indies squad, comprising 18 members, is already in intense training in preparation for the upcoming contests.

With Robert Samuels at the helm and a renewed sense of determination, the West Indies women's cricket team aims to make significant strides towards securing their World Cup qualification. Fans and enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the series against Ireland, hoping for thrilling performances and a successful campaign for their beloved team.