Former opening batter wins interim coaching role with West Indies
Enid Bakewell recalls her starring role with a triumphant England at the Women's Cricket World Cup 1973 and hails the growth in the game since those times.
Samuels failed to have his contract renewed as an assistant coach under Walsh earlier this year when the West Indies made sweeping changes to their coaching staff, but the 52-year-old has won a reprieve by being handed the top job for the home series against Ireland that commences later this month.
The former Jamaica captain and West Indies opening batter will take the reins on an interim basis and Cricket West Indies High Performance Manager Graeme West is confident he will perform well.
“Robert brings continuity and stability to get the team through this period. He has great knowledge of the players and the women’s game in general and strong knowledge of the support staff, so it’s almost a seamless transition with Robert coming in as interim head coach," West said.
"He has his own ideas and is trying to implement them now as interim head coach as opposed to assistant coach. He has made a good impact and start over the last few days and I’m sure it will continue throughout the series."
A disciplined bowling effort saw West Indies edge past Pakistan in Paarl.
Samuels played six Tests and eight ODIs for the West Indies, with his last appearance coming in a Test match against Australia in Perth in 1997 when he contributed scores of 76 and 35* in a winning side that was captained by Walsh.
The Jamaican will be supported by former West Indies spin bowler Ryan Austin and ex-Leeward Islands skipper Steve Liburd, after the duo were named as his assistants.
The first of three ODIs against Ireland commences at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia on June 26, with the three-match T20I series starting at the same venue from July 4.