ST JOHN'S, April 13: Darren Holder, the Talent Development Manager at Queensland Cricket in Australia, has been appointed as coaching manager with the West Indies Cricket Board.

The position is part of the WICB's Cricket Development unit and Holder will be the technical officer responsible for the coaching development component of the unit. Roger Brathwaite, WICB chief executive officer, said Holder would bring a wealth of experience and expertise to coaching in the region.

"Darren is on the cutting edge technically and technologically of current coaching trends and his role will be critical to the development of the game and the young players in particular in the West Indies," Brathwaite said.

Holder is currently on assignment in Bangalore, India, where he is conducting a Level III coaching course on behalf of the National Cricket Academy and Board of Control for Cricket in India and is expected to assume duties with the WICB by mid-June.

His duties will include the management and delivery of the WICB's coach education programme, organization and delivery of specialist coaching programmes, oversight of the Shell Cricket Academy programme, as well as organization and co-ordination of the emerging players' programme.

Holder has worked extensively with elite players, at a junior, youth, first-class and international level, in the area of specialist skill training and was responsible for the technical remedial programme for West Indies fast bowler Jermaine Lawson on his visit to Australia last October. -AFP