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• Sammy highlights Windies depth, readiness for T20I, ODI assignments against Sri Lanka

  West Indies white-ball Head Coach Darren Sammy is brimming with confidence about his squad’s readiness as they prepare to kick start their tour of Sri Lanka with the first of three T20Is on Sunday.

  Sammy’s confidence stems from the fact that most, if not all, of his players benefitted from the intensity and high-level competition of the recently-concluded Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season, which served as ideal preparation for them to deliver competitive performances in what will be a challenging tour in subcontinental conditions.

  Following their three-match T20 series, which ends next Thursday, Sammy’s side will also engage their host in a three-match ODI series, scheduled to begin on October 20.

  “The good thing is we are coming from our Caribbean Premier League, so most, if not all, the guys have been playing cricket, which is a plus when you have a series that comes so close after a tournament. So, us travelling here to Sri Lanka, the most important thing is the recovery of the guys,” Sammy shared shortly after arriving in Sri Lanka.

  “So we are going to have a couple days to do that and a training session before our first game on Sunday. But looking from what transpired in the CPL, my guys are ready to take on a really strong Sri Lanka team,” he added.

  

  Brandon King gathers his gears shortly after arrival. (Photo: Daily Mirror)

  Sammy, who has always been vocal about fostering a winning culture within the team, emphasized that the squad’s depth would be a crucial factor in the upcoming series.

  This, as the Caribbean side, West Indies, will be bolstered by the inclusion of fresh faces like all-rounders Terrence Hinds and Shamar Springer, both of whom have been rewarded for their strong domestic performances. Sammy expressed his excitement about seeing how these new talents integrate with the more experienced members of the team.

  “If you notice, we are trying the depth of our squad. We've given some guys some opportunities with the World Cup coming up in less than 20 months, so with some of our senior players being unavailable, I'm looking to see how far, how great our depth could be. But, obviously, the main purpose is to win series,” Sammy declared.

  “We've been doing well so far and giving guys opportunities to build and develop, so I'm really excited. Sri Lanka is a young team; since Jayasuriya took over, there's been a new energy and confidence in that team. So it will be a good series for us and a good tester for us to see where we are in the depth that we have in the Caribbean,” he reasoned.

  Sammy also pointed out that the inclusion of players like Hinds and Springer reflects the broader strategy of building a versatile squad capable of adjusting to different match situations and conditions.

  “Obviously the roles that they are going to be playing, especially with the ball in the backend, is a role that we are looking for and trying to find specific guys to do that. So this series, although it's short—only three games—gives them the opportunity to see and have a taste of the international flavour of cricket.

  

  Members of the West Indies delegation. (Photo: Daily Mirror)

  “So hopefully, when the opportunity comes, we could judge where they are. But I have full confidence from what I saw in the Caribbean Premier League—the skill set, the temperament they've shown already. That's why they are here with us, and I'm looking forward to what they could do on the international scene,” Sammy noted.

  While the conditions will undoubtedly require adjustments, Sammy’s optimism stems from the team’s diverse skill set.

  “The conditions, based on the data that Avenesh [Seetaram] has given us, are that the pitches are good for batting, and just looking at the recent Lanka Premier League, some of the places we played in Dambulla and Gandhi are places that produce high-scoring matches.

  “So we will assess the conditions like we always do, and Avenesh will be spot on in giving us the data that we need to help us prepare, plan, and strategize, and I think we are more than ready,” he ended.

• Palmer will become one of the world's best players, predicts Cucurella

  Cole Palmer will be among the very best players in the world if he continues on his current trajectory, believes the forward's Chelsea team-mate Marc Cucurella.

  Palmer enjoyed a magnificent debut campaign in 2023-24 after swapping Manchester City for Stamford Bridge, with his 33 Premier League goal involvements (22 goals, 11 assists) the most of any player.

  After impressing for England at Euro 2024 – where he came off the bench to score in their 2-1 final defeat to Spain – Palmer has picked up where he left off this term, registering 11 goal contributions (six goals, five assists) to once again lead the charts.

  He became the first player in Premier League history to score four goals before half-time in a single game versus Brighton and Hove Albion in September, when he scooped the competition's Player of the Month award.

  Palmer also won England's Player of the Year award for last campaign and Cucurella, who was a key part of the Spain team that defeated the Three Lions in Berlin, believes he is destined for the very summit.

  "If you see him not in his kit you would never in your life say he was a footballer, but then on the pitch... he shoots and it doesn’t seem like he is hitting it hard but he scores," Cucurella said in an interview with The Guardian.

  "He's very different. I don't know how to explain it: he's special. We’re very lucky we have him. 

  "We [Spain] are lucky he didn’t play much in the Euros either because he came on and almost messed it up for us. 

  "If he carries on like this, he'll be among the best. He doesn't have much strength in the air, but if that’s his only problem, then he's all right."

   

  Chelsea are unbeaten in six Premier League games since going down 2-0 to champions City on matchday one, with boss Enzo Maresca winning the competition's Manager of the Month prize for September.

  Though it is still early days for the Italian coach, Cucurella says the Blues have lofty ambitions under him.

  "Our objective has to be to win a trophy," he said. "In the Conference League we can do something good, and the cups. 

  "Arsenal and City have been working in the same way for many years, the same idea, the same players, and I think we’re a bit far away from that. 

  "Liverpool too because it's been the same players. But we can get into the Champions League, that's the key objective."

• 'Hopefully I'll be going back to the Under-21s' – Carsley casts doubt on England prospects

  Lee Carsley suggested he would be happy to go back to coaching England's Under-21s in the wake of the Three Lions' defeat to Greece.

  England lost to Greece for the first time as a double from Vangelis Pavlidis, who netted the winner in second-half stoppage time, claimed a famous 2-1 victory for the visitors at Wembley.

  Jude Bellingham had slammed in an 87th-minute equaliser, which was England's first shot on target since the third minute of Thursday's Nations League match.

  Interim manager Carsley, who led the Under-21s to Euros glory last year, picked an attacking line-up that featured Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka, but without a recognised striker in the absence of Harry Kane, England floundered.

  While the match stats were not overly in Greece's favour, with both sides having an equal number of shots and England actually creating more big chances (two to one), but the visitors did have three goals disallowed for offside.

  England's sorry performance sparked debate over Carsley's long-term suitability for the job of replacing Gareth Southgate on a permanent basis, and after the match, the former Republic of Ireland international said: "I was quite surprised after the last camp in terms of [reading] the job is mine and it is mine to lose and all the rest of it.

  "My remit has been clear. I'm doing three camps. There's three games left and then hopefully I'll be going back to the Under-21s. It has had almost no impact."

  Asked if he did not want the England job on a full-time basis, Carsley added: "I said at the start I wouldn't rule myself in or out, that's still the case.

  "I'm more than comfortable in my position. The remit was clear. I'm comfortable and confident with that.

  "After the first camp I didn't get too excited. I'm very aware that this job is one of the best jobs in the world. You've actually got a chance of winning. That's still the case."

  Greece, meanwhile, dedicated their win to George Baldock, the former Sheffield United full-back who died at the age of 31 earlier this week.

  "It was a very special day and match for us. Our thoughts are with George," said Pavlidis, who scored his first goals for Greece since June 2022 against Cyprus, ending a run of 14 games without a goal for the national side.

  "We are professionals and had to play the match. We gave our soul for him tonight. Today is not a day to talk about football. He was part of our team. We will miss him very much.

  "Also to wish strength to his family and not talk about football. The whole day was numb. We won tonight and don't want to celebrate. There are just no words."