Courtney Browne appointed WICB Selector

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) approved the recommendation from the Review Committee to appoint former West Indies wicket-keeper Courtney Browne to the West Indies Selection Panel. The decision was taken at the last meeting of the Board of Directors in St Lucia as the term of office for the Selection Panel came to an end on July 31, 2010.

Browne will join Chairman Clyde Butts and Robert Haynes who – also following the recommendation of the Review Committee – have both been reappointed for a new two year term which will expire on July 31, 2012.

“I thank the WICB for a new term on the Selection Panel. I’m pleased as well to be reappointed Chairman of the Selection Panel and I am confident that we will work closely as a group as we continue on a restructuring pathway,” Chairman Butts said.

“I welcome Courtney to the Panel and look forward to working with him and Robert along with Head Coach Ottis Gibson as we put our best efforts together to move West Indies cricket forward,” said the 53 year old Butts who appeared in seven Tests and 87 first-cass matches.

Newcomer to the Selection Panel, Browne said that he considered the opportunity to serve West Indies cricket in the esteemed capacity as an honour and privilege.

“It is a privilege to be afforded the opportunity to serve West Indies cricket again. I feel honoured and I will put my best foot forward,” commented the 39 year old Browne.

Browne said that the fact that he is still actively involved in the game will be an asset as he serves on the Selection Panel.

“I would have played cricket with some of the players who are still in the West Indies team and there is a lot more involved in cricket now and so I think I will be able to relate to the players a lot better,” Browne said.

Browne previously served as an Alternate Selector on the previous Selection Panel alongside Stuart Williams and Nehemiah Perry. Browne has served as the Chairman of the Barbados Cricket Association Selection Panel for the past two years and was also a Barbados Team Manager in addition to captaining that country’s side prior to his retirement.

Critically, against the background that the performance of the West Indies team has been disappointing and unsatisfactory, the Board has undertaken to prepare a Selection Policy Document. This document will include clear guidelines pertaining to the direction in which the WICB will take with regard to the selection of West Indies teams.

Upon its completion the Selection Policy Document will be provided to Chairman Butts and his Selection Panel in order to aid and guide the Panel in the execution of its mandate.

The Board noted that Butts chaired the Selection Panel with Haynes as a member at a time when West Indies cricket faced immense challenges and when several players were injured or unfit causing them to be unavailable for important engagements. The Board recognized that these situations undoubtedly hampered the Selection Panel in selecting the best possible West Indies team at all times.

The Review Committee comprised WICB CEO Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Chairman of the WICB Cricket Committee Joel Garner, former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd and WICB Chief Cricket Operations Officer Tony Howard. The Review Committee interviewed several candidates, including all three of their nominees, before arriving at their final recommendations. Courtney Walsh, a member of the Cricket Committee, was regrettably unavailable and could not take his appointed position on the Review Committee for the interviews.

Browne replaces former West Indies spinner Raphick Jumadeen on the Panel.

Dr. Hilaire thanked Jumadeen for his services during his term.

“On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Raphick for his selfless services during the two year term he spent on the Selection Panel and given his dedication to West Indies cricket I am certain he will continue to be involved in the development of the sport in the future,” Dr. Hilaire said.