Andre Coley has been named as the Interim Head Coach of the West Indies Men’s team for the upcoming tour of South Africa, Cricket West Indies announced Wednesday.

Following a meeting of the Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) Board of Directors on Monday, December 19, CWI announced that Coley will oversee the two-Test tour of Zimbabwe from January 28 to February 16, as well as the multi-format tour of South Africa, which includes two Tests, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three T20 Internationals (T20Is) from February 21 to arch 28.

Coley said he was honoured to be considered for the task.

“To be asked to oversee the West Indies team on the upcoming tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa is a special honour,” he said. “West Indies cricket holds a special place in my heart. The upcoming assignment will be challenging as we will come up against two teams in their home conditions. We will need to ensure that our planning and preparation are appropriate, and demonstrate consistency in the execution of these plans, to give ourselves the best opportunity to achieve positive results.”

Coley said he is confident the players are eager to achieve success on tour.

“The players, I’m sure, are enthusiastic about the opportunities that both series should offer and are eager to contribute to our team’s success,” he said.

“I look forward to the tours ahead and the opportunity to make a tangible and meaningful contribution to the growth of West Indies cricket.”

Meanwhile, Jimmy Adams, CWI Director of Cricket Coley’s experience should serve him well on this assignment that CWI has entrusted him with.

“We welcome Andre back to the West Indies dressing room and with his wealth of knowledge of the game, player-management skills, dedication and hard work, as well as attention to detail, we know he is well equipped,” Adams said.

“He is a highly experienced coach who has functioned at every level within the CWI High-Performance Pathway. This has prepared him for the job at hand and we expect he will again approach this new role with the same vigor and zeal which have characterized his time in the CWI coaching system and has earned the respect of players and everyone who he has interacted with.”

Coley, a former Jamaica wicket-keeper/batter, is currently Head Coach of the CWI Academy programme.

While Andre Coley fulfils the interim role, CWI’s High-Performance Manager Graeme West will oversee the West Indies Academy programme and who will be supported by  Adams to ensure there are no disruptions to the Academy programme during the period.

Coley previously served as the Assistant Academy Head Coach and Interim Academy Head Coach when the Sagicor Academy was launched in 2010. He was also Head Coach of the West Indies U19 Team; Assistant Coach of the West Indies Men’s and Women’s Teams, as well as Head Coach of Jamaica Scorpions and Windward Islands Volcanoes, who were the 2018 Super50 Cup Champions.

 In 2016, he was Assistant Coach of the West Indies Men’s Team which won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and earlier this year he was Assistant Coach of Jamaica Tallawahs when they captured the Caribbean Premier League title.

CWI also confirmed that the contracts of Assistant Coaches Roddy Estwick and Monty Desai had ended.

“I’d like to thank Roddy and Monty for their hard work and dedication in supporting the team over the last few years and wish them the very best in the future,” Adams said.

TOUR SCHEDULES

 West Indies in Zimbabwe

 28 to 31 January: four-day warm-up at Bulawayo Athletic Sports Club

 4 to 8 February: 1st Test at Queens Sports Club

 12 to 16 February: 2nd Test at Queens Sports Club

 West Indies in South Africa

 21 to 24 February: vs South Africa Invitational XI at Willowmoore Park, Benoni

 28 February to 4 March: 1st Test at SuperSport Park, Centurion

 8-12 March: 2nd Test at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

 16 March: 1st ODI at Buffalo Park, East London (day/night)

 18 March: 2nd ODI at Buffalo Park, East London (day/night)

 21 March: 3rd ODI at JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom

 25 March: 1st T20Is at SuperSport Park, Centurion

 26 March: 2nd T20I at SuperSport Park, Centurion

 28 March: 3rd T20I at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg (night)