By Neto Baptiste
Too many coaches today are taking a textbook approach when working with young talented cricketers instead of imparting knowledge the old fashioned way.
This is the view of former national and Leeward Islands fast bowler, Vaughn “Hungry” Walsh, who said coaches must take a more hands-on approach when dealing with young and impressionable players.
“I think some of these coaches need to put down some of these things they are reading to get the level one and level two [coaching certificate] and actually watch the cricket and work with the players. There is too much bookwork in this cricket right now. They [coaches] need to sit down and watch the game and work with the players,” he said.
Walsh, who claimed 92 wickets in 27 First Class matches, added that the practice by some coaches to groom players based on what is written on paper may have led to the demise of some.
“Everybody is not going to be the same with the cocked elbow and all this technical jargon, I don’t subscribe to it because I am old fashioned as I said to you anyway. I think we would have gotten better players if we just let these guys freestyle and work with them,” the former pacer said.
Batting, Walsh amassed 268 runs in 27 First Class encounters. While living in England in 1991, in a match for his club, Leicester Nomads, he took nine wickets for two runs.