One-year contract sees Bob Carter lead batting development across WI

Cricket West Indies confirmed on 9 September that former international player and seasoned coach Bob Carter has been appointed as the batting consultant on a one‑year agreement. Carter began his tenure on 1 September and will immediately embark on a comprehensive tour of the six first‑class regions – Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands – to engage directly with cricketers and local mentors.

The timing aligns with a busy international programme that includes the ICC Men’s World Cup Qualifier scheduled for February‑March 2027. Carter’s playing career features 60 first‑class matches and 50 List‑A fixtures, while his coaching résumé spans three decades across the Caribbean and abroad. He advised New Zealand Cricket as a high‑performance coach from 2012‑2025, captained the New Zealand women’s side as head coach from 2019‑2022, served twice as an assistant coach for the Black Caps, and held senior administrative roles with Northumberland County Cricket in England.

In his inaugural remarks, Carter lauded the West Indies’ legacy of producing elite batters and stressed his commitment to establishing a robust foundation for the next generation of world‑class players. He anticipates close collaboration with regional and high‑performance coaches to elevate technical skill levels.

Cricket director Miles Bascobme indicated that the long‑term objective is to enhance both player development and the regional coaching architecture ahead of at least six global competitions slated for the next 24‑30 months, beginning with the men’s World Cup qualifier. The twelve‑month term is designed to improve technical standards before those events rather than to produce immediate top‑six team outcomes.