Monday April 18^th 2011 – Kingston, Jamaica: With just three days to go to the first match in the much anticipated Digicel Series 2011, www.digicelcricket.com caught up with West Indies team manager, Richie Richardson, who spoke exclusively about his thoughts on West Indies cricket through the ages; the current team and the future of West Indies cricket. 

“Comparing cricket to when I played and now, there are a lot of things that have improved. Processes, for example, are much better. But the big difference is that players have more support nowadays with physiotherapists and dieticians and in terms of the play there’s more technology. When I played we didn’t have all the computers and all this statistical information at hand. There’s more video coverage which we didn’t have when I played. So, yes it is more professional but I think in terms of the play and the players it is still very much the same.

The positive manager talks about the importance of bringing on cricket from the youth level.

“Bringing on grass roots is the way forward to ensuring we continue to bring on great players through the correct infrastructure like the rest of the world. We sort of took it for granted that we would always produce world class players and while we have the talent, our infrastructure to bring them on was dwindling. Now the WICB has now put some structure in place and we will start to see a difference. Yes, it will take time – and tremendous investment – to get a streamlined programme across the region with great coaches all coaching from the same manual, but in ten years we’ll see Windies coming back to the fore based on our grass roots programmes.”

Over 2600 young cricketers will benefit from the WICB Digicel Grassroots Cricket programme this year. The aspiring young cricketers will receive specialised coaching from over 180 WICB accredited coaches from April to September 2011.

“There have been some good performances over the last months in the World Cup particularly. I’m very optimistic and I’ve never been concerned about the talent,” said a confident Richardson. 

“We’ve always produced great talent – my concern is the infrastructure to bring on the talent we produce and the programmes for them to come through. Young Andy Russell played really well and Darren Bravo is showing the signs of becoming a great Windies player. As long as we continue to work hard in the Caribbean and ensure our grass roots come along, we will have a bright future ahead of us.”

“Now we’re about to head into the Digicel Series which is very important – it’s the home series. As a region it’s always very important and for our home fans who look forward to excitement and to us doing well. It’s easier for us to do well with our home crowd and their support and it gives an opportunity to bring ourselves back up the ladder – to dig deep, work hard, prove ourselves and give back to our fans. People across the world have been accustomed to the Windies providing exciting cricket and we must work harder to give that to them.”

“For the Digicel Series 2011, as long as we continue to improve that’s the most important thing,” says an assured Richardson.

“Obviously winning too – that would be a tremendous achievement. It’s been a while since we’ve won a lot of cricket and we are looking forward to taking on these teams at home.”

ENDS

ABOUT THE DIGICEL SERIES 2011

The Digicel Series 2011 kicks off on Thursday April 21^st when the West Indies Cricket team take on Pakistan in the Beausejour Cricket Grounds in St. Lucia. The Pakistan tour will then visit Barbados and Guyana before finishing up in Dominica on May 24^th.

The West Indies v India tour begins on June 4^th in Trinidad & Tobago’s Queen’s Park Royal. The teams will then play in Antigua & Barbuda, Jamaica and Barbados before finishing in Dominica on July 10^th.

Digicel’s dedicated cricket website www.digicelcricket.com will also feature lots of exclusive content, updates and interactions. For example, the new “Predictor Game” gives fans a chance to guess the outcome of all the matches – so that they can get the most out of the cricket action. 

Also in support of the Series, Digicel launched its new cricket campaign, “WI all in” – a full, through the line campaign which puts cricket fans at the centre of the action – making them the heroes of the game. West Indies cricket fans will see the ad on TV, in press and in outdoor executions – as well as a version cut for radio.

ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP 

After ten years of operation, Digicel Group Limited has 11.5 million customers across its 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel sponsors the West Indies cricket team and is also the title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Cup. In the Pacific, Digicel is the proud sponsor of several national rugby teams and also sponsors the Vanuatu cricket team.

Digicel also runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Jamaica, Haiti and Papua New Guinea which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.

In 2004, Digicel developed Digicel Rising Stars – an annual talent show to support aspiring young music artists in the Caribbean. The show has spanned the Eastern Caribbean, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago ranking as one of the top-rated shows.

Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and its markets comprise: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Nauru, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos and Vanuatu. Digicel also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barts in the Caribbean.

Visit www.digicelgroup.com for more information.