SAMMY...for me as a coach, to lift the silverware, it will mean everything
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Having already identified a powerhouse batting line-up, West Indies white-ball Head coach Darren Sammy says the only task left is to assign specific roles for bowlers to be fully prepared for this year’s ICC Men's Twenty20 (T20) World Cup at home in June.
Cricket’s shortest format remains a strong suit for West Indies, who won both their T20 World Cup titles in 2012 and 2016 under Sammy’s captaincy.
The regional side again showcased their prowess when they won T20 series against South Africa, India and England in 2023, and posted three successive 200-plus scores in Australia earlier this year, despite losing that series 2-1. Those results have left Sammy upbeat about the prospects, as they look ahead to the global showpiece to be hosted jointly in the West Indies and United States.
“The way my batters batted, I think it’s the first time a team had scored over 200 three-consecutive times whether batting first or chasing, and it speaks volumes of the power that we have in that squad. It sends a strong message to the world from our batting group that West Indies is a dangerous force,” Sammy said in a recent Cricket West Indies interview.
“I’ve said it before to my guys. I said to them, ‘I’ve seen this team before, this type of power, the explosiveness’. It was a team that I captained before, so to see it eight years since I left the game... man, it’s exciting times for us in the World Cup coming in June," he added.
Still, death-overs bowling remains an issue with the team, and as such, Sammy pointed out that they are in the process of finalizing candidates for various bowling roles.
Rising fast bowler Shamar Joseph is on Sammy’s radar for the World Cup, especially after the 24-year-old’s headline-grabbing debut in the Australia Test series earlier this year.
Joseph’s exploits were widely celebrated across the region and Sammy believes winning the World Cup on home soil would help sustain that interest in the game.
“When West Indies do well, there’s a buzz. You saw Shamar Joseph’s exploits in Australia and how it created a buzz in the Caribbean. So, for us, and for me as a coach, to lift the silverware, it will mean everything," Sammy declared.
“But, obviously we need to tinker and work on some different bowling roles and that myself, James Franklin and the captain [Rovman Powell] have been speaking to various persons that we want to execute different roles.
“I’ve been speaking and working diligently with our analysts looking at grounds, different venues we’re going to have [for the T20 World Cup] and the different dimensions and different conditions in the surface and making sure we have the right personnel to fill in those key roles," he shared.
Rovman Powell and his men will begin their World Cup campaign with a Group C contest against Papua New Guinea in Providence, Guyana, on June 2.
However, until then, Sammy said the focus is on their preparation to ensure efficient execution when game time comes.
“The preparation both on and off the field is going good. Leading up closer to the World Cup, I think a few of my boys will be in the IPL playing. We have a series probably just before the World Cup – three matches against South Africa – so building up to that, we’ll be ready," Sammy explained.
“And again, we’re at home, we know the conditions, it’s not about adapting. It’s just about making sure we execute well when the day comes," he ended.
“We have the manpower within the dressing room”- Sammy confident Windies can overcome 0-2 deficit against England
West Indies white ball head coach Daren Sammy says there’s still optimism in his camp that they can overcome the 0-2 deficit they currently face in their five-game T20I series against England.
The hosts lost the first two game of the series at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday and Sunday, with the rest of the series now shifting to the Daren Sammy Stadium in St. Lucia beginning with the third T20I on Thursday.
“Most definitely, especially here in St. Lucia,” Sammy said in a pre-match interview on Tuesday regarding his team’s optimism ahead of Thursday’s must-win game and the rest of the series.
“Yes, England have played better cricket than us in these first two games but I’ve rallied St. Lucia to come out and be the 12th man that we need here. We just haven’t played the brand of cricket that has allowed us to win and it’s something that we’re going to address but we have the manpower within that dressing room to win on Thursday and take it one game at a time,” he added.
The West Indies will be without two key players for the rest of the series in Andre Russell and Shamar Joseph.
Russell suffered an ankle injury in the first T20I on Saturday and has been ruled out for the rest of the series while Joseph has left the squad to prepare for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh starting on November 22 in Antigua.
Replacing the pair are all-rounder Shamar Springer and spearhead Alzarri Joseph, returning to the squad after serving a two-game suspension.
“It’s always a blow to replace somebody like Andre Russell. We have young Shamar Springer who made his debut in Sri Lanka to replace him. He’s a really exciting prospect,” Sammy said.
“Shamar will go in and get ready for the Test series and Alzarri is back from his suspension. We’re looking forward to welcoming him and the experience he brings to the squad. Yes, we lose two key guys but we get two guys who are capable of doing the job for the team as well,” he added.
Springer replaces injured Russell in Windies squad for final leg of England T20Is in Saint Lucia; returning Alzarri Joseph replaces Shamar Joseph
All-rounder Shamar Springer and pacer Alzarri Joseph have been drafted into the West Indies T20I squad ahead of the crucial St. Lucia leg of their “Rivalry” series against England, CWI announced on Tuesday.
Springer replaces Andre Russell who has been ruled out due to a left ankle sprain sustained during the opening T20I at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday.
The 26-year-old Bajan recently made his international debut during the West Indies tour of Sri Lanka in October.
The other change sees Alzarri Joseph, having completed his two-match suspension, rejoin the squad in Saint Lucia, replacing Shamar Joseph.
The West Indies currently trail the five-match series 0-2.
The squad for the final three games is as follows:
Remaining Schedule of West Indies vs England T20I Series:
3rd T20 International: 14 November 2024- Daren Sammy Stadium, Saint Lucia
4th T20 International: 16 November 2024- Daren Sammy Stadium, Saint Lucia
5th T20 International: 17 November 2024- Daren Sammy Stadium, Saint Lucia
Pride get back on track with tense eight-run DLS method win over Volcanoes
The Barbados Pride rebounded from their defeat at the hands of the CCC in their last game with an eight-run DLS method win over the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain on Monday.
In the rain-reduced 46 overs-per-side affair, the Pride, after winning the toss and choosing to bat, posted 239-9 from their 46 overs.
In form batsmen Kevin Wickham and Leniko Boucher led the way for the Pride with 47 and 43, respectively while Kemar Smith (34*) and captain Kyle Mayers (33) also made valuable contributions.
Kenneth Dember was excellent in his 10 overs of off-spin, finishing with figured of 3-33.
Set a revised target of 245 from 46 overs, the Volcanoes fell agonizingly short of a win, being bowled out for 237 in the end.
Jeremy Solozano tried his best with an 88-ball 85 while West Indies batsman Kavem Hodge made 37.
Mayers led from the front with the ball with 3-50 from seven overs of medium pace while Dominic Drakes and Javed Leacock each took a pair of wickets.
Full Scores:
Barbados Pride 239-9 off 46 overs (Kevin Wickham 47, Leniko Boucher 43, Kemar Smith 34*, Kyle Mayers 33, Kenneth Dember 3-33)
Windward Islands Volcanoes 237 off 46 overs (Jeremy Solozano 85, Kavem Hodge 37, Kyle Mayers 3-50, Javed Leacock 2-37, Dominic Drakes 2-42).
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