Desmond Haynes roped in as West Indies batting consultant

Former West Indies opener Desmond Haynes has been appointed batting consultant for the West Indies cricket team.

The batting great has been engaged for the Digicel home series against Pakistan and India after which the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) will search for a full-time batting coach.

"Haynes, an outstanding opener in his playing days, will be working with the West Indies senior team batsmen under head coach Ottis Gibson," WICB said in a statement on Tuesday.

West Indies batting struggled in the World Cup and it was one of the reasons of their disappointing performance.

West Indies have announced a new-look squad for Thursday's Twenty20 game and the first two ODIs against Pakistan, leaving out senior batsmen Shivnaraine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Haynes has already joined the team and attended the Windies camp in Barbados last week.

"I have always said I wanted to be involved in West Indies cricket and help in any way I could. This is a chance to help the young players with their development," said Haynes.

"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."

Haynes said he can also help the players with the mental aspect of their game and the way they go about their cricket in general.

"This is a chance to make a contribution and I'm pleased to be given the opportunity to be involved in West Indies cricket once more."

Haynes will bring phenomenal experience with him.

Haynes played 116 Tests and made 7,487 runs at an average of 42.29 per innings. He made 18 centuries.

In 238 ODIs, he stacked up 8,648 runs at 42.37 per innings with 17 centuries.

Haynes and Gordon Greenidge formed one of the most lethal opening combination and contributed immensely when the West Indies ruled world cricket in the 1970s and the 1980s.

Haynes later coached his native Barbados and also worked with South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis, batsman Herschelle Gibbs and young West Indian batsman Darren Bravo among other international cricketers.