West Indies head coach Daren Sammy insists his squad remains composed and united as they prepare for the second Test against world‑number‑one Australia at the National Cricket Stadium, beginning July 3.
Despite a bruising 159‑run defeat in Barbados, Sammy declared, “We’ve just started a Test Championship and the XI we picked is still our best balance. After one game, there’s no need for panic.”
Lessons from Bridgetown
The opening contest at Kensington Oval offered two gripping days of parity before a brittle batting collapse—190 and 141 all out—and a rash of seven dropped catches tilted the match Australia’s way. Fast‑bowling spearheads Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales each seized five‑wicket hauls, yet the support cast faltered at decisive moments.
“You cannot drop seven catches against the world’s number one team and expect to compete all the time,” Sammy conceded. “We shot ourselves in the foot, but there were positives. For the first two days, we were head‑to‑head with them.”
Moving past the umpiring storm
Sammy was fined 15 per cent of his match fee for publicly questioning third‑umpire Adrian Holdstock—a flashpoint he now considers closed.
“There has been some admission of error. That was Barbados and we’re now in Grenada,” he told reporters. “I don’t hold grudges… I’ve left it behind. I wish Adrian all the best.”
Stick or twist? Sammy stands firm
With no personnel changes anticipated, the onus falls on familiar faces to correct familiar flaws. The coach’s blueprint: sharper catching, fuller use of batting overs, and—where possible—a brisker scoring tempo.
“Either you score faster to bring the game closer or you bat more overs,” Sammy noted. “We’ve selected a squad that should allow us to do both… we’re taking steps toward a style that helps us improve.”
Whether confronted with a placid surface or a bowler‑friendly seam of green, execution must sharpen if the Windies are to square the three‑match series.
Brathwaite’s milestone: 100 Tests of grit
Former skipper Kraigg Brathwaite stands on the brink of a rare landmark: his 100th Test appearance.
“I was privileged to captain when Kraigg debuted in 2011,” Sammy reflected. “To coach him now, 14 years later, speaks volumes about his contribution. Level the series in his 100th Test—that would be special.”
Bigger picture: World Test Championship trajectory
In the previous two WTC cycles, West Indies ranked among the slowest first‑innings scorers and faced the fewest overs. Sammy’s mandate is to reverse those trends, cultivating a “culture, brand and way of playing” that rewards initiative without sacrificing resilience.
“When we do things well, we compete with the best,” he reminded. “It’s about putting all facets together, maintaining pressure, and—crucially—not dropping the chances that come.”
With clarity restored and tempers cooled, the Caribbean side steps into Grenada determined to transform hard‑earned lessons into a statement victory.
