THE PROPOSED West Indies Cricket Academy should have been up and running a long time ago.

And if Sir Vivian Richards has his way, non-West Indians will be involved in the day-to-day operations.

While the outstanding former West Indies captain has seen chinks in the armour of the rebuilding Australia side, he has pointed to their domestic structures that have continued to unearth quality replacements.

Sir Vivian, widely regarded as one of the toughest captains the game has ever seen, has watched the Australia team in recent weeks in his capacity as a Johnnie Walker Ambassador promoting a "Know Your Boundaries' responsible drinking campaign.

Asked if he felt the Caribbean should be trying to duplicate Australia's systems with the presence of academies, his answer was in the affirmative.

"We should have had that long ago. That's the norm. All these other countries [with academies] have been pretty good," Sir Vivian said.

"We should have these things in place. The quicker we get these things in place and we get them working properly and funded properly, the better it is going to be for the production of more cricketers coming through where West Indies is concerned."

An Academy was set up at the St George's University in Grenada a few years ago, but after four years in operation, it came to a standstill. Under the previous set-up 24 Caribbean cricketers between the ages of 18 and 23 were enrolled for a three-month period.

The West Indies Cricket Board has finalised an agreement with University of the West Indies at Cave Hill in Barbados for the establishment of a West Indies Cricket Academy, with satellites in each member territory.

The launch of the academy is subject to the completion of negotiations for a sponsorship agreement to cover financing of the programme.

Sir Viv has confidence in the authorities to implement the appropriate structures for the running of the academy, but he also feels that staff at the facility should not be limited to Caribbean nationals.

"Sports has become so global that we have people from all walks of life who are going to do jobs in various countries. They don't necessarily have to be natives," he said.

"If they are quality and they can bring something to the table which helps improve the product you are trying to sell, I have no problem with that."

It is against this background that he has embraced the appointment of Australian John Dyson as West Indies head coach.

"I've never knocked...there are people here who tell you about guys coming from overseas and doing whatever. Things have become so global. If you look at English soccer, you have a coach who is Italian," Sir Viv said.

"If we can find the quality, I am certain guys will be given the opportunity.

"John Dyson is a guy who is pretty receptive. If you know how to man manage your team well enough, the things that it takes to get through to them, I have no problem with that. Let's wait and see. Every individual needs a chance to accomplish the goods they are paid to do."