Reifer rising to challenges ahead of U-19 World Cup

With six months to go before West Indies host the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup for the first time, head coach Floyd Reifer has been outlining preparations for the West Indies squad in the face of COVID-19 pandemic challenges.

Barbadian Reifer, a former West Indies Test, One-Day International and Twenty20 captain, who has also served as head coach of the regional team at the highest level, spoke with Barbados Today columnist Keith Holder in a wide-ranging interview at the 3Ws Oval, Cave Hill, where his name adorns the well-appointed Pavilion, dubbed “The Floyd Reifer Balcony”.

The 2022 Under-19 World Cup (the 14th edition) is scheduled for January 4 to February 5, with 16 teams taking part.

For those who take pride in documenting historical information, Reifer was also head coach of the Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) Marooners when they won the Cricket West Indies (CWI) 50-over title in 2018. He tasted silverware in the same role as well against the odds in 2019 with rookies, West Indies Emerging Team.

From a local perspective, Reifer is arguably the most successful club coach in the last four decades, guiding Sagicor Life University of West Indies (UWI) to an amazing 16 titles across the three major formats in Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Competitions after they were granted top division status in 2006.

They have captured the Elite (rebranded in 2012 from First) three-day division seven times – 2009, 2010 (shared with Spartan), 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2018; the Sagicor General Super Cup on four occasions – 2007, 2012, 2015 and 2018 and the Sagicor General T20 Cup a record five times – 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017 – after it started in 2008.

And Reifer, who celebrates his 49th birthday on July 23, also boasts of being one of the most prolific batsmen in the BCA top league in the past four decades with over 11 000 runs including a record 24 centuries.

HOLDER: I watched the first of four Barbados Under-19 trial matches at the Rubis Sports Club (formerly Texaco) ground, Brighton, last Sunday in preparation for the 2022 ICC Under-19 World Cup. As head coach of the West Indies Under-19 team, can you tell us about the preparations in all of the territories?

REIFER: Each territory is hosting internal games. What we are trying to do in the initial stages with 44 players, chosen from a depth chart, is to provide a holistic science-based programme, which includes technical work to improving skill-set, mental skills training, nutrition and strength and condition.

A programme was put in place by myself, Rohan Nurse and Jamal Smith (both qualified coaches). We were working on this comprehensive programme from the middle of last December and the full programme started at the end of January.

Jamal wrote the wicket-keeping programme, while Rohan and myself put together the batting, bowling and fielding.

We had to identify coaches around the region to assist us in executing the programme to the young players across the region.

A Strength and Conditioning programme was also written by Gregory Seale (a Trinidadian), who is the lead Strength and Conditioning coach for the Under-19s. He also manages the S&C component.

A lot of work is done remotely. Coaches submit videos regularly which myself, Rohan and Sir Curtly Ambrose analyse and assess and give feedback to the coaches and players. This also includes specific remedial drills for players.

We also work with our analyst, Avenesh Seeteram, who is from Trinidad & Tobago, in putting all of these videos into individual players’ files, so that we can track the progression of the players as the programme goes on.

All of the actual programmes are monitored by myself, Seale and Graeme West, who is the High Performance manager.

HOLDER: In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, how challenging has it been for you with preparations?

REIFER: It is very challenging. Obviously, due to Covid, there was no regional Under-19 Tournament last year and there is none again this year.

So in order to see the players in action, we have to find creative and innovative ways, thus having organised matches. For example, Trinidad & Tobago had theirs already in May-June; Guyana started in June but rain intervened and they are scheduled to continue on July 12, 13 and 14; Jamaica completed theirs a couple weeks ago and Barbados has just started.

In terms of the Leeward and Windward Islands, it is tough to logistically get the players together in light of Covid challenges. The players identified from the Leeward Islands played some competitive matches with the Leeward Islands Hurricanes who are preparing for regional Tournaments.

As far as the Windward Islands are concerned, players involved from St. Lucia and Grenada took part in T10 and Under-19 competitions in those two islands.

We are looking at identifying new talent outside of the 44-member squad.

HOLDER: Can you name the coaches in the various territories in the region who are assisting you?

REIFER: Apart from (Barbadians) Rohan Nurse and Jamal Smith, who I mentioned earlier, Terrence Corke of Jamaica is doing a very good job. Orin Bailey, Winston Smith (Guyana) – Bailey looks after players in Georgetown and Smith is responsible for those in Berbice; David Williams, Kelvin Williams (Trinidad & Tobago), Alton Crafton, Junior Derose (St. Lucia), Ashley Cummins, Clyde Telesford (Grenada) and Carl Tuckett, Stuart Williams (Nevis).

HOLDER: From watching the match at Brighton last Sunday, the players seemed very enthusiastic and relieved to have some competition in the absence of a regional Tournament this year. What were your impressions?

REIFER: Yes, the players were very enthusiastic at being able to finally get a game but we could see that some of them were a bit rusty because of a lack of cricket. So, hopefully going forward we will see better performances in the next three games.

When one considers that the match was played just two days after Hurricane Elsa affected the island severely, it was a great effort from the lads to actually come out and play under challenging pitch conditions.

HOLDER: Five years ago, West Indies won the ICC Under-19 title for the first time in Bangladesh. Emerging from that Tournament, the likes of batsman Shimron Hetmyer, who was the captain and the fast bowling trio of Alzarri Joseph, Chemar Holder and Kemo Paul have all now represented West Indies at the highest level. Are you happy with their international progress and what would you say to those who are now vying for places in the squad as far as the upcoming Tournament is concerned?

REIFER: What we want to do going forward is to produce the elite athlete, with a mind-set that would allow them to compete consistently at the highest level, on and off the field, so that on leaving the Under-19s, they can be challenging for plays for their franchises, and West Indies “A” and senior teams.

While it is true that the four players you mentioned have all played international cricket, the elite mind-set needs to be further nurtured in order to ensure more consistent performances. Professionalism is something that we must stress as part of their development as international players. We want to mould this mind-set at an earlier stage.

HOLDER: Have you been receiving reports on the fitness of the players and if so, are you satisfied with the level they are expected to reach?

REIFER: We receive reports, data and videos from the lead S&C Mr. Seale so that we can monitor the progress across the region. We understand the challenges that lockdowns and certain protocols present in terms of limiting outside training so Mr. Seale has facilitated online sessions via zoom to ensure that players can carry out the necessary training until restrictions lift.

HOLDER: When do you expect to trim the squad and for roughly how long will they be in a camp prior to the Tournament?

REIFER: The camp in Antigua is from August 1-27. Four practice games will be organized after which the squad will be cut from 56 to 25.

HOLDER: Are you concerned over the fact that there are a few talented young players, namely from Barbados, in Jacob Bethell, your cousin Nico Reifer and Che Simmons, who are all currently contracted by English County teams and are likely to be lost to England, either due to birth or British family roots, like yet another Barbadian, Jofra Archer, who made his international debut just two years ago?

REIFER: This is a concern that we seem to be losing players to the English system. However, we must continue to strengthen our systems in the Caribbean and create a viable, developmental pathway that can compete with other development programmes in other cricketing nations. To compete we must offer scholarships and high performance programmes that nurture our talent pool.

Keith Holder is a veteran, award-winning freelance sports journalist, who has been covering local, regional and International cricket since 1980 as a writer and commentator. He has compiled statistics on the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Division 1 (rebranded Elite in 2012) Championship for four decades and is responsible for editing the BCA website (www.bcacricket.org). Email: Keithfholder@gmail.com