Windies turn to Richards

Richards is one of the finest Test batsmen of all time

Sir Vivian Richards has been appointed the new chief of selectors by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

The Windies' leading Test run scorer of all time and former captain is joined on the three-man panel by former opener Gordon Greenidge.

The pair were contemporaries in the dominant sides of the late 1970s and 80s.

Joey Carew, a former captain of Trinidad and Tobago who played for the West Indies between 1963 and 1972, was the only member of the previous three-member panel retained.

Michael Findlay and Joel Garner were the two men who stood down.

Richards, 50, scored 8,540 runs at an average of 50.23 in 121 Tests between 1974 and 1991.

He coached the West Indies during the 1999 World Cup before being replaced by Roger Harper as coach in February 2000.

First task

Greenidge has been working as West Indies batting coach

Greenidge, 51, is the third-highest West Indies' Test run scorer of all time behind Richards and the legendary Sir Garry Sobers.

He made 7,558 runs at an average of 44.72.

The new panel's first job will be to select the teams for the last three one-day internationals of the current series against India.

The Windies then play five one-day internationals and two Tests against New Zealand in the Caribbean next month.

The new appointments were welcomed by WICB president Reverend Wes Hall, who told windiescricket.com of his delight at the appointments.

"The WICB is privileged to welcome outstanding former West Indies cricketers such as Sir Vivian and Gordon Greenidge as new members of the panel along with experienced selector Joey Carew."