Career advisors will tell you that making the short list for any position is firstly a matter of making your resume a mirror image of the job criteria.

So the appointment of Barbadian, Robert Weekes, as the ICC's new Americas Development OFficer can hardly surprise.

With the job surely entailing the ability to set and implement policy, communication skills and practical grass roots cricketing experience, Weekes is seemingly a neat fit.

He comes into the job on December 1 with a background which includes 10 years as a professional engineer in executive management in Texaco focussing on strategic planning, and Life Membership of the Barbados Cricket League, a nursery which has in the past produced amongst others Sir Garfield Sobers and Everton Weekes.

Speaking from Bridgetown yesterday, Weekes relayed an understanding of what it will take to kickstart an Americas development process which for various reasons has never quite got into full gear, while exhibiting all the usual enthusiasm expected from a newly installed employee.

"I am very excited about the role. Cricket has always been a part of my life, As my job involved travelliog cricket was in the background. This provides me with the opportunity to follow it through professionally," Weekes said.

"The Americas represents the biggest opportunity for the game technically and commercially," he added.

Weekes said his first assignment would be to meet the 'foot soldiers' in the countries which fall in the Americas region.

"I am also very excited about meeting those people coordinating cricket in their respective countries, both those inside and outside the ICC - to find out their needs and concerns.

"Since the 1960s and 70s there has been hotch potch progress. In the past you would hear about countries such as Belize and then not hear about them again.

"I will be looking to making the national teams more competitive and increasing the numbers participating in cricket throughout the region."

Weekes said he also wanted to establish an information exchange between countries, part of which would be an internet page for the Americas.

He refuted concerns the Toronto based position would be primarily focussed on overseeing the preparation for next year's ICC Trophy.

"Toronto is just a launching pad. I will be getting to the member countries regularly."

'Beyond The Test World' wishes Robert well in his new role and extends similar sentiments to the Matthew Kennedy, the ICC's new East Asia-Pacific Development Officer, who begins his new job today (October 25).

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