KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – New West Indies captain Darren Sammy believes he will have the full backing of the players during his tenure at the helm, and says one of his immediate goals will be to install passion back into the of the embattled team.
The 26-year-old says that enlisting the support of key senior players like former captain Chris Gayle and effervescent all-rounder Dwayne Bravo will be crucial in achieving his team objectives.
“One thing I know for sure is I want to bring lots of energy. I don’t think I could be on a cricket field, despite what’s happening, and not show that fighting spirit and that passion,” Sammy told reporters at a media conference on Wednesday.
“One of the guys who has a lot of energy is Bravo so I have to bring him with me and all the other guys in order for us to reach at our goal.”
Sammy was announced last Sunday to lead the regional squad, taking over from Jamaican Gayle who had led the side for the last three years.
He will have as his deputy Australia-born Jamaican batsman Brendan Nash but says he expects Gayle to play a key role. “Chris has publicly said that he would support me and the team and that in any way possible he will help so I have full confidence that the senior players will do what they have to do,” Sammy noted.
“Any cricketer who is committed to West Indies cricket will go out there and give the best for the team and support whoever is in charge. My relationship with all the players over the years has been good and I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t continue.”
The St Lucian has been appointed to lead until the end of the Home Series next year but his first task will be overseeing the Windies’ three-Test tour of Sri Lanka starting next month. Sammy, who has played just eight Tests and 43 One-Day Internationals since making his international debut six years ago, will take over a team which has lost nine of its last 15 Tests, while winning just one match.
“My biggest challenge would be to get the team to bring the results the West Indies people want. It is going to take time, we will not get the results right away, everything takes time,” Sammy warned.
The right-armer said he was honoured to hold the post of captain and would be depending on divine help in order to execute the role successfully.
“As a man from a Christian background my mom always told me that the Almighty never puts His children in positions that He knows that they can’t handle,” he spoke philosophically.
“I have given this captaincy over to the hands of the Lord and with Him in charge everything is possible.”
