HOVE, England – Darren Sammy said West Indies were well aware of all the challenges that confront them on their tour of England.
But the West Indies captain said his side had no intention of backing down from those challenges, and were quite prepared to work hard for whatever success they can achieve during the three-Test series against the hosts.
“I think we are coming from a tough series [against Australia] in the Caribbean,” Sammy told reporters attending the West Indies’ official arrival media conference on Thursday at the PROBIZ County Ground here.
“We have played some good cricket in the year-and-a-half, and we are quite confident we can come to England and play well, so everyone is looking forward to May 17, when the real thing starts.
“It’s never [an easy thing] to play England on home soil. They are quite a strong team when they play in their own backyard. What I can tell you about our side is that we will come and play with a never-say-die attitude.”
Sammy said his side would prepare well for the battle and felt the presence of West Indies coach Ottis Gibson in the dressing room was a massive asset for the visitors.
“[England] are No.1 and whatever weaknesses they may have, obviously they will try to strengthen it,” he said. “But we will focus on what we can do.
“We have a good coach and he has a lot of experience in England, so I know he will make sure the information in the dressing room is clear and we will try to execute our plans.
“It is good having him in the dressing room and the guys are slowly, but surely buying into what he is trying to instill in this team.”
Sammy added: “We have been taking 20 wickets over the last year-and-a-half, and I must give the coach credit for this. All of the bowlers have commended him for the work he has done with them.
“We are a much improved bowling unit and the conditions in England aid fast and swing bowling, so I am quite confident our guys can put the English batsmen under pressure.”
Sammy said he was more at ease with himself and the position of West Indies captain, developing his own style to cope with his own performances and the players around him.
“I try to make sure the team is relaxed,” he said. “If you have a clear mind, you can go out there and perform better.
“I have developed a formula for myself in which I could play and I worked out that once I play my way, the aggressive way, I get more results this way.”
He said: “On the field, I try to understand my bowlers, what makes them tick, so I can help them be able to go out there and perform – whether it be telling them a joke or something to get them fired up, I will do it.
“As a team, the culture and the environment is very good, and the players are starting to shape up as a family. The job is getting easier and easier, and hopefully on this trip, we can do what is necessary to be successful as a team.”
West Indies arrived in England on Wednesday and open the tour on Saturday with a three-day match against the Sussex Sharks at the PROBIZ County Ground.
The England pair of left-arm spinner Monty Panesar and wicketkeeper/batsman Matt Prior have been named in the Sharks’ 12-member squad for the match.
Rain however, hampered West Indies’ preparations for the match, restricting the visitors to a training session on Thursday in the Farnrise Indoor School at the same venue.
go head Sammy with your other teammate girls and play your rounders doh forget is cricket England playing.
xxxxxxx is rite, since ambrose/walsh left WI in 8th position, today they are in very same position, but yet still they say WI cricket is better, well as a matter of fact WI is worst off….sammy says the same thing over and over am fed up…Otis Gibson could not make the WI team so he run to England, today WI is struggling with the bat, where are all the dreat batsmen we used to have to coach our young batsmen, Otis Gibson could not bat to save his life…..fed up!!!!
Sir
Can you remember the number of whitewashes we had before Sammy became captain? Those whitewashes were under bothe Gayle and Lara. Refresh your memory; then you will know in which direction the WI team is heading and at what location they are now.
error correction (both)
Come see, Come see crazy” Freeness if you know what I mean ca ba` maltete. Thank God D.N.O. is used as a bully pulpit by some cowards who feel just because their Names& adresses and their location is not reveal gives them the right to intimidate or try to intimidate others such is life these days social media has its good and bad but I have news for those concern like other things in life that too will pass,and remember money cannot buy respect nor can one buy class is either a person have it or they do not. my name is Mr. PASCAL:
Sammy sounds like a politician that was not prepared to give a speach. He gave credit to coach Ottis for his team taking 20 wicket over the past 18 months, and says Ottis is a very good coach. However, the facts and record do not support this claim and I must say is only in the West Indies would a coach and captain with this dismal record would continue at the helm.
Since Ottis Gibson became coach in January 2010, he and sammy have only won 2 matches, one against Bangladesh and one against Pakistan. Apart from Bangladesh where the won the second test and secured the series, they lost series against India 2-0 both at home and in India,& 2-0 against Australia. Againt Pakistan we had a 1-1 series and in Sri Lanka, all 3 games were drawn thanks to rain.
Concerning his claim od windies taking 20 wkts under Ottis Gibson, the record also indicates that outb of those 14 games Gibson and Sammy have managed, we only took 20 wickets 4 times and two of the four times, the opposition was trying to attack to get a win.
Gibson who was a bowling coach in England, has nothing to show that he has improved our fast bowling, while it is clear that under his management and captaincy of Sammy, our batting in particular has been trough termoil. Under their leadership, we got close to losing Chanderpaul, we lost Gayle, Sawan, Ramdeen, Nash, Taylor, and Devon Smith, all of whom have scored test 100(s). Is that what we call progress Sammy?
Sammy is not just SOUNDING like a politician he is one . And one that sings for their supper too.
Wow did not realize free speech was limited these days, but what else is new.
As for Sammy and his usual rhetoric I could careless for it. I wish West Indies well and it remains to be seen how the “hardworking culture” Sammy said he and Gibson has developed will pay off in England.
He is sending warning to Gayle I hope he pulls his fair share of the work load as an “All-rounder” and not be playing just to captain!
TO MY WEST INDIANS/INDIES PEOPLE SUPPORT YOUR TEAM AND DON’T REPLY TO HATER’S THAT’S ALL THEY WANT TO BE KNOW.AM WITH SAMMY ALL THE WAY WIN,LOOSE OR DRAW.
I’M WITH YOU ALL THE WAY. LET’S USE OUR COMBINED FORCES TO CRUSH ALL THOSE WINDIES HATERS WHO HAVE SUCH SHORT MEMORIES THAT THEY CANNOT REMEMBER ALL THE SHAMEFUL WHITEWASHES WE USED- I SAY USED- TO GET. LET US ALSO CRUSH ALL THE BLIND ONES WHO CANNOT SEE WHERE THE WI TEAM IS NOW. THEY DON’T REALISE THAT THE SAMMY HATING COMMENTATORS JUST WANT TO PUSH THEIR BIG COUNTRY PLAYERS AND OUR SMALL ISLAND PLAYERS FOR CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM.
XXXXXXX is an IDIOT, nuff said.
LOL! You all can say what you want. Cannot shut me up and will never shut me up. I say West Indies cannot play cricket. Best the Lost Indies find a job on a farm in England. Long live the NBA…..Long live the IPL..
Why are all these people replying to your comment?? You who have never and will never make a national team much less for a regional one. You who cannot appreciate what is yours but will support people who have no ties to you. Do you have family or friends in the NBA or IPL? Can you identify with them? Well, I am West Indian and will support my own! And i do not wish to shut you up. I love listening to ignorance when I know better.
i second your comment,great
You will be surprised how soon you will shut up your own self.
At XXXXXXX You are so lame Why are you trying to bring them down instead of wishing them Good Luck is all you so EH I rest my case.
You all cannot win in warm weather is in cold weather you all gonna win. Zor kay sarve….. Sammy boi best you all go plant bananas and leave cricket for those who can play real cricket..
People like you need to shut up
@XXXXXXX – I suppose it’s your turn as a member of the Organisation for Pseudo-cricket Analysts and Sammy Haters(OPASH)to post some sort of foolishness against Sammy and the West Indies cricket team.
Anyways Windies I’m wishing you all a successful tour of England and trust you all use the practice matches to fine tune your game ahead of the upcoming challenge of the English cricket team. WI All in!!
@xxxxxx typical black man mentality wish well for d man nuh,u wishing dem bad,chupes man
When you say black man are you saying that XOOOOX thing is a man, could be a woman as well
Go educate yourself. This is May and June and it is Summer in England. Remember Summer. This is warm/hot weather, not cold weather. You speak like someone who has been in the field 24/7 planting Bananas and have not been listening to cricket.
The man is right…Do u live in England to know what weather is like
? there’s no Summer this year pure dark and cold weather we going to have..Which damn Cricket..
you are ignorant. support them don’t criticize
them
so why dont you go and play cricket?? silly mot!