Darren Sammy said it was a good feeling to have completed his maiden Test hundred for West Indies in the second Test against the World No.1 England on Saturday.
Watched by his wife Cathy, the Windies captain made 106, following up Marlon Samuels’ third Test hundred of 117 to lift the Caribbean side to 370 in their first innings on the second day at a sun-drenched Trent Bridge.
“I have been hitting the ball really nicely since the start of the limited-overs matches in the Digicel Series against Australia in the Caribbean and this innings was about me spending time at the crease,” he said.
“I batted for 156 deliveries. I do not know the last time I faced so many balls. The team benefitted and it was exceptional for the team, given the position in which we found ourselves on the opening day [on Friday].”
Sammy said the best part of the innings was batting with Samuels, as they established a record seventh-wicket partnership for any team playing a Test in England. They put on 204.
“Marlon is a very quiet, cool guy, but he goes about his business in a serious way,” he said.
“We just decided to play what we see and I think the results speak for themselves. I’m really happy about my innings, but the job is not done. We still have some work to do.”
He noted: “It was good to get a maiden Test hundred, but from a team perspective, we didn’t bat the way we should have [on Saturday].
“The plan was for me and Marlon to see out the first hour, and look to get a big total of over 450, but we gave our wickets away in the end.”
Sammy said West Indies would have to work incredibly hard to restrict England when the Test resumes on Sunday.
He felt the visitors had under-achieved on Saturday, as England reached 259 for two at the close, following Andrew Strauss’ 21st Test hundred and solid support from Kevin Pietersen.
Strauss collected his second hundred of the series, an undefeated 102, and Pietersen was unbeaten on 72 to put the home team in a favourable position.
“The pitch is really good for batting and we bowled far too many four-balls both sides of the wicket and they scored quite freely,” said Sammy.
Sammy also defended Kemar Roach. The West Indies strike bowler had a tough day having Alastair Cook caught behind twice off no-balls.
“Once you bowl no-balls, you stand a chance of these things happening,” said Sammy. “But Kemar has always given his heart to this team.
“Throughout this series, he has been playing with an ankle niggle, but he keeps running in, day in and day out. It’s always disappointing when a bowler bowls a good ball and gets the result, but it’s a no-ball. He kept going and created a few more opportunities.
“But Kemar said he was coming up an incline and he seemed to be struggling to find his rhythm. He was barely going over the line. It’s something that he and [West Indies coach] Ottis [Gibson] can work on. I’m not worried. He will work it out before the match ends.”
sammy too sot… how can you come and play rounders at cricket match with you dont know is blows you go get.. papamet
Congrats! I am happy that Cathy was there to see it!
Let me take this time to congratulate Sammy on a brillian knock and for getting his first test century. It came very late, but better late than never. I hope you can give us another big one in the second inning because at 61 for 6 we are in bib trouble. You and Samuel need to go past the 204 parnership in first inning if we going to stand a chance.
I know Channel 1 will get at me later because he/she thinks all I do is criticise you unfairly. However, as a sports man you know I don’t hate you Sammy; all I am asking is that you prove that you deserve your pick and lead from the front with both ball and bat.
Sammy, before this test you had played 25 matches and your batting record was:100’s =0, 50’s= 2 and ave. 19.46. How can I accept that from my all rounder and captain? Should I accept that because you are Lucian, my sister island? No way! windies first. In bowling a little better because you have taken 68 wkts, 5Wkts =4times and 4 wkts.=1time at ave. of 31.25. Fair, but as our third bowler, I expect better if we are going to win.
You have taken Dwane Bravo’s position who had played 40tests and batting record as:100’s =3; 50’s = 13, and ave. of 31.42. His bowling:86 wkts, 5wkts =2 times and 4 wkts.=6 times. Most of us were upset with Bravo who was sometimes our 4th or 5th bowler and because of his ability with the bat, we could play him as a #6 batter. To drop him for you, as a supporter of windies, I expect you to perform much better and especially now, since now you are the captain which makes your pick sure.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Well deserved. We look forward to more like this.
SAMMY DON’T GIVE UP I VERY HAPPY FOR YOU
Well done Sammy!! Despite the persistent and unfair criticisms from the critics, you continue to show your full commitment in leading the West Indies team revival. If you continue to be consistent in your performances, alot of the critics going to have to be placed under Sammicide watch…..:lol:
Let me take this opportunity to big you up channel#1. It was time for Sammy to make a point. I know you have me as one of his critics, and I am; however, I don’t hate him; I just want him to perform.
Do you know that when he played his first test he batted at # 8 on a team that had much better batsmen? Do you know that 28 games late, on a weaker team he still bats at #8 and has not made progress. Also, Do you know he was our fith bowler when he played his first test and now he is our first change bowler because our bowling has no depth?
Compare his stats to Jerome Taylor who played 29 tests for us and began his career as a # 11 batsman and 4th change bowler. Do you know that Taylor moved from # 11 to #8 with the bat and from 4th bowler to #1 bowler? After 29 tests Taylor’s ave reads: Batting Ave. 15.72 with 1 century and 1 50. Thta’ very good for a #11 batsman. His bowling:82 wickets; 5 wkts =4 times and 4 Wkts. 4 times. But we were asking for him to be dropt. Why? I guess he is not from the windwards. Sammy has taken fewer wickets after same amount of test and a slightly bettr batting average than a # 11 batsman, and on top of that, as captain, you guys are upset when I say that he does not deserve hic pick. Are we to put country before the success of windies? I sure cannot do that because at the end of the day, they all represent windies reguarless of where they from, and win or lose they represent me.
pure crap, he could have done the same right here in dominica,maybe shane would have gotten fifty runs to,thus giving shane a chance to establish or consolidate his postion on the west indies first eleven,and secondly sammy needs to win matches,or go down as the worst captain in west indies cricket, worst than chris gayle.