CPL team Tallawahs appoints Arthur as coach

Kingston (Jamaica), March 21 (IANS/CMC) Former Australia cricket coach Mickey Arthur will take charge of defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The organisers confirmed that the South African, who also coached the Proteas for several years, will replace Englishman Paul Nixon. The Tallawahs beat Guyana Amazon Warriors in the final of the inaugural event last August with Nixon at the helm of the management team.

Arthur will be one of several new faces in the coaching staff of the six franchises as another former Australia coach Tim Nielsen will take up the position at the Antigua Hawksbills.

Simon Helmot, who coaches Melbourne Renegades in the Australian Big Bash League (BBL), will lead Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, India's Robin Singh will coach Barbados Tridents while Matthew Maynard will take up duties with St. Lucia. Former West Indies head coach Roger Harper will continue his role with Amazon Warriors.

“We’re extremely pleased to have secured such a strong line up of talented and respected coaches for this year’s tournament. With their technical expertise along with guidance from our legendary mentors, the standard of cricket this year is set to be higher than ever," CPL director of cricket Tom Moody said.

The new appointments represent a number of changes to last year’s management staff. West Indies legends, who filled most of the head coach positions, have now been installed as mentors.

Sir Viv Richards will take charge at the Hawksbills, Courtney Walsh at the Tallawahs, Desmond Haynes with the Tridents, Gordon Greenidge with the Red Steel, Sir Curtly Ambrose at the Amazon Warriors and Sir Andy Roberts at the Zouks.

Last year, only Ambrose did not serve as head coach of a franchise, acting as Harper’s assistant with the Amazon Warriors.

The CPL will be played in July and August.

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