PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Cricket West Indies’ decision to appoint Daren Sammy as head coach of the Test team has been met with skepticism by legendary fast bowler Sir Andy Roberts, who believes the move will yield no immediate turnaround for the struggling squad.
The announcement came during Cricket West Indies’ quarterly press conference in St. Vincent, where Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe revealed that Sammy would transition from coaching the white-ball teams to leading the Test side, effective April 1, 2025. Sammy’s elevation follows a promising tenure during which he guided the T20 team to 20 wins in 35 matches and the ODI team to 15 victories in 28 games over an 18-month period.
However, Sir Andy, a towering figure in West Indies cricket who scalped 202 wickets in just 42 Tests, voiced his doubts during an interview on Trinidadian radio station i95.5FM.
Mindset must change, warns Roberts
“I don’t see any coach, any coach making a difference until the players can buy into the concept of what made West Indies cricket great in the past,” Sir Andy remarked, emphasizing the need for hard work, commitment, and self-reliance.
He criticized the reliance on coaches, arguing that modern players lean too heavily on external guidance. “You cannot allow coaches to be thinking for you because that seems to be the norm in West Indies cricket. You have to know what is good for yourself and be able to analyze your game on the day because every day you wake up, you won’t feel the same,” he added.
The 73-year-old legend lamented the systemic stagnation in West Indies cricket, highlighting the stark contrast between the region’s current state and its once-dominant position in the global game.
Rooted in the past
“If you check West Indies cricket, during the years that we have been in the doldrums and today we’re still in the doldrums, but our methods stay the same as it was 15, 20 years ago,” Sir Andy pointed out. “It is not a method that is associated with West Indies’ greatness.”
He noted the painful irony that cricketing powerhouses like Australia, England, and India—once followers of the West Indies’ approach—are now the trendsetters. “We are living in the past… They are teaching us how to play cricket now, and we were the ones that they were following. Now we’re the followers.”
Sammy, a beloved figure in West Indies cricket, faces the daunting challenge of reviving a Test team mired at the bottom of the rankings for decades. His promotion is seen by some as a testament to his leadership qualities, but Sir Andy’s remarks underline the deeper cultural and structural issues that must be addressed if the team is to reclaim its former glory.
