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| April 22, 2007 | Sunday | Rabi-us-Sani 04, 1428 |
West Indies coach faces uncertain future
BRIDGETOWN (Barbados), April 21: West Indies’ Australian coach Bennett King is facing an uncertain future as he waits for a review of the team's disappointing display at the World Cup which ends with Saturday's game against England.
King, whose contract runs out in November, has been coach of West Indies since 2004 but has come under criticism after the run of four straight defeats in the Super Eights stage and now faces a performance review from the West Indies Cricket Board.
“You are always considering, it is just something that is constantly there with you – I've got a family, a wife and three children who have followed me half way across the world and I have got to keep their best interests in mind as well.
“You know, with coaching, the game that it is, you are never quite sure what your bosses are looking for, you never know when they are going to come up with a different vision or a way to move the side forward that might not include you.
“I am just looking forward to the review and we will go from there,” he said.
King will present his report on the World Cup campaign to the board in the coming days and there will also be a review of the overall functioning of the team and staff.
“My next step is getting the review of this tournament done with the cricket committee, sitting down and I guess, moving forward, planning for the next four years, whether I am in the position or not.
“I think it is important for coaches to try and plan for people that are coming in as well, if that is the case.
Certainly (I hope to) get a direction.
“I guess, coaches are a bit like compasses, they try and point in the right direction all the time,” he said.
West Indies finish their World Cup fixtures against England at the Kensington Oval on Saturday when the team's captain Brian Lara will play his final international game before retirement and England coach Duncan Fletcher will take his final bow with his side.
King was prompted to comment on Fletcher's departure but used the opportunity to reflect on the nature of his job.
“The coaching game is not an easy game. You are always in the spotlight and the public always wants to have results.
“As a coach you have got your own vision and it doesn't matter what you say, the public and the media still perceive results as the only thing that really matters, that's the job I guess.
“My thoughts lie with the board and what they want -- and the job that I have been employed to do and that's what I try and stick to and keep the blinkers on,” he said.—Reuters
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