MIRPUR, Bangladesh, CMC – Darren Sammy confessed he still needs to show the form needed to lead by example.
The West Indies captain was speaking on the eve of his side’s third World Cup Group-B match against Bangladesh today at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium. In One-day Internationals, Sammy last took a wicket against a Test-playing nation in February last year, and as captain, he averages 75.33 with the ball and 8.5 with the bat.
“As a captain, you’d want to perform,” said Sammy. “For me, I always feel like I am only one great performance away.
“I have the right mindset to lead the team, and the team is responding, and I am aware of my own personal form.
“The kind of person I am, the kind of mentality I have, I am only one performance away from being at my best. That’s how I see it.”
Sammy was chosen as West Indies captain ahead of last November’s tour of Sri Lanka more because of his commitment to the cause of West Indies cricket than his achievements on the field. He will be hoping that he can produce a significant performance with the bat or the ball, or both against Bangladesh before the skeptics start losing confidence in him.
Sammy knows the stakes are very high in this match, if West Indies are to reach the second stage of the competition. “We always have this belief in ourselves, and once we play to our full potential, we are a force to reckon with,” he said. “Bangladesh have been competitive, and we have to take them seriously. They rely heavily on their spin and are sure of their batting, but we are confident too and we will play accordingly.”
Sammy noted that Bangladesh have shown in recent matches that they are an improved side, and acknowledged their World ranking of West Indies. He referenced Wednesday match in which Ireland stunned England as a warning for his side ahead the contest.
“It shows that you can’t take any team for granted,” he said. “For us, nothing has changed. “We have played two games and have focussed on each of them. We look to execute the plans we have in store.”
When Bangladesh visited the Caribbean two years ago, they took the One-day International series 3-0.
The difference between then and now was that the representative squad was a hastily convened bunch, as several of the first call players connected to WIPA were engaged in a contractual dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board, and did not make themselves available for selection. Sammy, opener Devon Smith, wicketkeeper/batsman Devon Thomas, left-arm spinner Nikita Miller, and fast bowler Kemar Roach took part in that series.
But they will be looking to find the same formula they did against the Netherlands, and give firm proof that the Bangladeshis were fortunate back then.
Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Abdur Razzak, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahim, Naeem Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Raqibul Hasan, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Shahriar Nafees, Suhrawadi Shuvo and Tamim Iqbal
West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Sulieman Benn, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kirk Edwards, Chris Gayle, Nikita Miller, Kieron Pollard, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith and Devon Thomas