Windies bring in Haynes as batting consultant

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MIAMI: In the latest attempt to halt their decline, West Indies have brought in former top test opening batsman Desmond Haynes as batting consultant for the upcoming series against Pakistan and India.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said in a statement that beyond Haynes' involvement they were aiming to appoint a full-time batting coach to work under head coach Ottis Gibson after the 2011 home series.

"I have always said I wanted to be involved in West Indies cricket and help in any way I could," Haynes said in a statement released by the WICB.

"This is a chance to help the young players with their development. I just want to see the players get better as we aim for improvement at all levels in West Indies cricket and get the team back to the halcyon days."

A member of the West Indies team during their golden years in the 1980's, Haynes played 116 Test matches and made 7,487 runs at an average of 42.29.

For most of his career he opened with fellow Barbadian Gordon Greenidge in one of the Caribbean's most profitable partnerships and he made 18 test centuries.

As a coach, Haynes had worked with South African all rounder Jacques Kallis and batsman Herschelle Gibbs and young West Indian batsman Darren Bravo.

As well as Haynes, another former test batsman Richie Richardson has recently been brought in as team manager.

West Indies dropped their experienced batting trio of Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul for the opening two ODI games with Pakistan later this month.

The series begins with a single Twenty20 game in St.Lucia on Thursday. (Reuters)