Bengaluru, Oct 16 Amidst the financial constraints imposed on them by Cricket West Indies, head coach Daren Sammy believes that the team has sent a “strong message” with their spirited performance against T20 world champions India in the ongoing five-match series.
The CWI was recently forced to announce pay cuts and shorter contracts for its players due to the lingering financial issues.
“For us, what success means may be different to the viewers. With us as a group, I think it’s the first time we’ve won more than two games in 20 years (in India). I think the way we’ve played, we’ve sent a strong message,” Sammy said in the pre-match press conference here on Friday.
The Windies fought toe-to-toe with India to keep the series alive at 2-2 before the decider to be played here on Saturday.
“In spite of all the challenges that we face, if we could come here and compete against the best team in the world, defending (ICC T20) champions (India), we tick boxes that keep us in the conversation.
“Before the series started, we all knew the big (pay) cuts and everything that happened. We’re still doing well and we continue to be a team that brings entertainment to the world when we are doing well. It’s not because of us, it’s in spite of all the challenges that we face,” he said.
Sammy said if the West Indies players can remain consistent they can challenge the best in the world.
“My role and extension in management with the players is to go out there and do our best. Sometimes it’s hard, it’s inconsistent, but what I’ve seen in this series, it gives the guys a lot of confidence. I did say it was a way to measure where we are.
“If we could be consistent, the players that we have in the dressing room, they go out there and give their all. When they do that, we can compete and win games against anybody in the world,” he noted.
Sammy used the lion-hearted performance of all-rounder Roston Chase to underline his argument.
Chase has often dried up runs and taken wickets in the middle overs to choke India’s progress in this series.
“I think he’s now number three all-rounder in the world. He has a very defensive mindset. He relies on applying pressure, trying to dot up the opposition. Sometimes he may not get the results, but at the other end, the results may come. My thought, to me, he’s been the best bowler in the series so far,” said Sammy.
With six wickets in his kitty, Chase is the joint highest wicket-taker in the T20I series along with Keemo Paul.
“The way he continues to keep us in the game by applying pressure, it makes the job a little easier. I think that’s one of the reasons why we’ve been able to pull the game back after the power play.
“Hopefully, he continues tomorrow… he comes in and has a good game. Chinnaswamy is a tough place to bowl as well. It’s a place where the bowlers have to be spot-on. Hopefully, our bowlers can go out there and give one more big fight and that could help us win the series,” he added.
Sammy thought the T20I series win for them would be a perfect ending to a long and competitive rubber.
“The fact that we make cricket really competitive is good for viewership. Once the West Indies is doing well, it lightens the mood of every single person.
“It’s been box office TV. Hopefully, tomorrow gives us that opportunity to bring the curtains down on an excellent tour of India,” he noted.
(PTI News)
