Dyson sacked as West Indies coach

[Murad]

West Indies cricket lurches from one precipitous state to another, with the news that the board (WICB) have sacked the coach, John Dyson, ahead of the forthcoming Champions Trophy.

He is to be temporarily replaced by David Williams, the assistant coach, who has been in his role with the side since 2007. Williams has never hid his ambition to become the full-time national coach, and expressed his dissatisfaction in the appointment of Dyson, from Australia, rather than opting for a West Indian.

Dyson took over the post in 2007, but was almost immediately in the bad books of West Indies fans when he couldn't attend their series against Zimbabwe. His appointment came hot on the heels of Jeff Dujon's less than ringing endorsement of cricket in the region, when he said "no coach in the world can help West Indies".

Nevertheless, Dyson made a good start when West Indies beat South Africa - their first overseas win in a Test for seven years - which helped quieten the deafening criticism that West Indies should have employed a native coach.

Success was sporadic. His most notable achievement - the 1-0 series victory over England earlier this year - saw West Indies regain the Wisden Trophy, a laudable achievement for side seemingly constantly in transition or up against the odds. However, the feel-good factor didn't last as he brought a disgruntled squad to England in May which included a number of players who would rather have been at the IPL.

It has not been a happy end to his tenure, and he departs after the recent Test and one-day series defeats against Bangladesh. West Indies fielded a severely weakened team after a dispute between the WICB and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) over contracts led the withdrawal of all the leading players.

In addition, the manager, Omar Khan, has been replaced by Lance Gibbs, the former Test bowler. West Indies are also sending a shadow side to South Africa in September despite the main players saying they were available for selection.

http://www.cricinfo.com/westindies/c...ry/419647.html