Windies coach promises change in fortunes

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

WHITE-BALL HEAD coach, Daren Sammy, has promised to help effect change in West Indies cricket, after overseeing a consequential Twenty20 series win over powerhouses India last weekend.

Without a series triumph over their Asian rivals in seven years, West Indies thrashed the visitors by eight wickets in the decisive T20 International at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium, to clinch a 3-2 verdict.

Coming on the heels of West Indies’ failure to qualify for the T20 World Cup last October and the 50-over World Cup later this year, Sammy said there were already ongoing discussions with Cricket West Indies president Dr Kishore Shallow and newly appointed director of cricket, Miles Bascombe, on the way forward.

“The general picture is trying to change the culture – the work culture, and it involves everyone,” Sammy pointed out.

“And in the new president in Kishore, the conversations we’ve had with the director [of cricket], things are going to change.

“Obviously, I ask for patience because it won’t just shift overnight but we’re putting measures in place so we could effect change.”

He added: “To the fans I say, be patient. We are working towards change that could be effective for West Indies.”

West Indies cricket has undergone turbulent changes over the last 12 months, losing head coach Phil Simmons and director of cricket Jimmy Adams, along with Nicholas Pooran who resigned as captain in the wake of the T20 World Cup qualifying fiasco.

Sammy said he had already formed strong working relationships with new captains Shai Hope (ODI) and Rovman Powell (T20), and praised Powell for his leadership during the T20 series.

“I love Rovman. He’s a tactician and we’ve had conversations, like he’s said in the press,” Sammy said.

“We sat him down [last weekend] – and this is where my expertise comes in as a leader, as a captain – to make it simple for him.

“He said: ‘coach I’m proud of you.’ We both listen to each other. So I think it’s a good partnership and putting all egos aside and working towards the betterment of the team.”

Sammy said he was also seeing the makings of a strong new team, singling out all-rounder Romario Shepherd for his great “work ethic”.

“Young Romario Shepherd [has been] building confidence game after game,” Sammy said.

“It’s the first time I think he’s gotten a long run playing in formats, and you could see his work ethic throughout the last three or four months. The results are not surprising to us.”