Logie is new national coach

The Jamaica Observer newspaper reported yesterday that the former West Indies and Bermuda coach will replace Junior Bennett in the position.

Long-serving physical trainer Dave Bernard Sr, father of current West Indies A-Team captain Dave Bernard Jr, will also be replaced.

The shake-up comes following recommendations from national technical director Jimmy Adams to the Jamaica Cricket Association executive committee.

“No one from the JCA has given a reason exactly why, and I haven’t discussed this with Jimmy as yet, but I have been informed via a phone call that this is the decision,” Bennett told the newspaper

Bennett is expected to continue in the role until the end of month, but he noted he is currently out-of-contract, and the JCA would have to make a new arrangement.

“[Jimmy] sent an e-mail asking if I could facilitate a transitional period because Logie starts on December 1, and the team is in training now,” said Bennett.

“So I told him that I don’t have a contract with the JCA right now, but if something can be ironed out, I’m willing to facilitate the process because it’s our cricket, so I’m willing to help out.

“Once the terms are outlined, I have no problem working in that transitional period. These are players that I’ve been working with for years, and what I do is for Jamaica’s cricket and its cricketers.”

Bennett has been conditioning the national team, since taking over from current West Indies selector Robert Haynes four years ago.

He has overseen a period in which Jamaica has been crowned as WICB Regional first-class champions for the last three years. But the team has had limited success in the shorter forms of the game, with last July’s Caribbean Twenty20 Championship, and last month’s WICB Regional One-day competition being the latest examples, which may have pushed JCA officials over the edge.