Sammy salutes Hope after ‘special’ record-chasing masterclass
Key Points(5)
- West Indies captain Shai Hope’s remarkable endurance and unbeaten 162 have earned the highest praise from head coach Daren Sammy after the Caribbean side completed a historic five-wicket victory over India on Saturday.
- Hope spent the entire 50 overs behind the stumps before walking out to bat and remaining at the crease for all 48.2 overs of West Indies’ successful chase.
- ‘He doesn’t really say much’ For Sammy, Hope’s performance was another illustration of the leadership qualities he brings to the West Indies team.
- The coach said Hope’s influence was not necessarily measured by how much he spoke, but by the clarity of his actions and the standards he set on the field.
- “He doesn’t really say much, but when he speaks, he’s quite clear as to what he’s expecting from himself and from the group,” Sammy said.
West Indies captain Shai Hope’s remarkable endurance and unbeaten 162 have earned the highest praise from head coach Daren Sammy after the Caribbean side completed a historic five-wicket victory over India on Saturday.
Hope spent the entire 50 overs behind the stumps before walking out to bat and remaining at the crease for all 48.2 overs of West Indies’ successful chase.
His unbeaten 162 from 143 balls propelled the visitors to 352 for five, the highest successful One-Day International (ODI) chase in West Indies history, and Sammy described the captain’s contribution simply as “special.”
“The skipper stepping up is not anything new to him, but to keep 50 overs and then put on your pads and go and play an innings like that was special,” Sammy said.
‘He doesn’t really say much’
For Sammy, Hope’s performance was another illustration of the leadership qualities he brings to the West Indies team.
The coach said Hope’s influence was not necessarily measured by how much he spoke, but by the clarity of his actions and the standards he set on the field.
“He doesn’t really say much, but when he speaks, he’s quite clear as to what he’s expecting from himself and from the group,” Sammy said.
The head coach also believes Hope has not received sufficient recognition for his contribution to West Indies cricket.
“I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he’s done for West Indies, how he’s played, and the commitment he’s given us. Class player, great individual,” Sammy said.
Record victory provides belief
Hope’s brilliance also helped West Indies finish the series on a high after India had already secured the overall contest.
The hosts won the first two ODIs by eight wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead, but West Indies responded in spectacular fashion in the finale, chasing down India’s imposing 351 for seven.
Sammy said the performance was significant because it showed the 10th-ranked West Indies could stand toe-to-toe with the world’s No. 1 ODI side when they maintained their standards for long enough.
“We came here knowing the quality that India has and to measure ourselves against a quality team like that, and we showed that when we do things consistently well for long enough, we could match the number one team in the world,” Sammy said.
The victory, he added, should provide the team with both lessons and renewed confidence.
“So, we’ll take a lot of learning from this, belief as well ... and it was a well-deserved victory,” Sammy said.
