St. John’s Antigua- Ex-Windies wicketkeeper/batsman Ridley “Rasburg” Jacobs said he is quite pleased to be given the responsibility of coaching Antigua & Barbuda at next month’s senior Leeward Islands Three-Day Cricket tournament in St Kitts.
Jacobs said it gives him a proud feeling and an opportunity to move Antigua’s cricket forward.
“You know it’s a great feeling when you get an opportunity to do something for your country, especially in the field where you have been successful, which is cricket,” Jacobs said.
“You know I am glad and I feel proud to know that I have gotten an opportunity to help the youngsters, hoping that I can push Antigua’s cricket forward.”
Earlier this week Jacobs started preparing a 22-member national training squad for the tournament.
Jacobs feels that the inclusion of former Windies players such as Sylvester “Bouncing” Joseph and Devon “Boobie” Thomas in the squad will make his job a lot easier.
“I’m actually playing with a lot of young, talented individuals. Some of the guys have past experience of playing for Antigua over a number of years,” Jacobs said.
“We have Sylvester Joseph who has played and went on the represent the West Indies.
“We have boobie and a lot of other guys who are very talented. With those guys in the team, I think that I should have a good stint as coach of this team because they are very knowledgeable about what is happening so it makes my job a lot easier than really what it is.”
Jacobs, who is making his debut as head coach of the national senior team, received his appointment last week, less than three weeks before the start of the June 1 to 19 tournament.
But Jacobs is not perturbed by what is perceived in some quarters as short preparation time for the squad.
Jacobs feels the time is adequate since the players have been getting in shape by playing in the Antigua & Barbuda Cricket Association’s (ABCA) domestic two-day competition in recent weeks.
“Most of the guys are actually playing. The Antigua cricket association is actually having its two-day competition going on now so most of the guys are match-fit and match-ready,” Jacobs said.
“It makes it much easier for me because it’s basically just to fine-tune certain things and try to get them even more readier for the upcoming tournament.”
