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Sir Vivian Richards, one of the most highly-respected characters in the long history of West Indies cricket, was yesterday installed as the new chairman of the selectors of the senior selection panel.

The 51-year-old Sir Viv, the only West Indies captain never to have lost a Test series, is joined on the panel by his contemporary of the great regional teams of the 1980s, Gordon Greenidge, and Michael Joey Carew, the only survivor of the previous panel that included chairman Mike Findlay and Joel Garner.

The new panel will take effect from the first One-Day International against New Zealand on June 5.

The appointments were made at a lengthy West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) directors meeting on Friday, at which sources told SUNSPORT that Garner was made West Indies 'A' team manager for forthcoming tours of England and Canada.

It was widely anticipated that Sir Viv and Greenidge, 51, would have been appointed to the selection panel, but speculation was that the 64-year-old Carew, a selector at varying times during the past decade, would be made chairman with a view to having continuity. It is understood that, as was the case two years ago, Carew was recommended as chairman by the cricket sub-committee, but it appears as if the full board of directors were not in favour.

The WICB is privileged to welcome outstanding former West Indies cricketers like Sir Vivian and Gordon Greenidge as new members of the panel, along with the experienced selector Joey Carew, said WICB president Wes Hall.

Hall lauded the contributions of the previous panel.

"Being a selector is a thankless job, but all West Indians owe a debt of gratitude to these gentlemen who commit so much of their time to monitoring the performance of our players and choosing West Indies teams.

Findlay was a selector for six years, the last four as chairman, while Garner was on the panel for four years.

The appointments of Sir Viv and Greenidge is in keeping with a pledge from Hall to have more former West Indies players involved in the game.

Sir Viv, whose 8 540 runs (ave. 50.23) in 121 Tests are the most by any West Indian, had a brief stint as coach in 1999, while Greenidge, who scored 7 558 runs (ave. 44.72) in 108 Tests, has been used in recent times as a batting coach at West Indies team camps.

Sir Viv, Greenidge and Carew were among seven nominees vying for the three places on the panel. The others were Findlay of St Vincent, Andy Roberts of Antigua, Maurice Foster of Jamaica and Joe Solomon of Guyana.

News has also emerged that Foster and Solomon, two outgoing WICB directors, have made way for Dave Cameron, treasurer of the Jamaica Cricket Association, and Bish Panday, secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board.

Garner, a successful West Indies 'A' team manager on tours to Sri Lanka, South Africa, India and Bangladesh during the last six years, has apparently only retained the post because of the unavailability of former Trinidad and Tobago captain and West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop. It is understood that Garner had not been nominated by the Barbados Cricket Association, who put forward Calvin Hope after it learnt that Bishop was not available.

The WICB directors also reappointed outgoing chairman Clyde Butts and member Ezra Moseley to the new junior selection committee, along with new appointee, former West Indies spinner Derek Parry of Nevis.

© The Barbados Nation