The West Indies team stumbled in their opening match in the World Twenty20 against India, but since then did everything needed to keep their hopes of defending the title alive. They outplayed Bangladesh, Pakistan and Australia to set up their semifinal clash against another strong sub-continent side Sri Lanka today.
Darren Sammy has been an unsung force behind the recent success and though they beat Sri Lanka in a warm-up match prior the tournament the Caribbean skipper informed their approach and mindset will remain the same while the respect will also be there.
“Cricket is not about what’s happened before, it’s what happens on the cricket field on the present day. Yeah we defeated them in the World Cup in the warm up game here, but they play some good cricket. We have a lot of respect for them at the same time we know what we have to do to win. Practicing today, we are going to focus on the way we want to play, hopefully we can execute our plans and improve on the areas that needs improving,” said Sammy at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath spun the Lankans to victory with his magnificent five-wicket haul against New Zealand. He poses a great threat in the turning wickets, but Sammy said they have plans against the 36-year-old and will not play him how the Kiwis played.
“Well, the makeup allows guys like Gayle and smith to go hard at the top. The off spinner has been the one getting the wicket against us. We don’t mind the left arm spinner, hopefully we won play him like New Zealand.
“We know what we are going to come across. And this bunch of guys in the dressing room is very confident. Even when everything seems gloom we have the belief that the person in the middle can do well. That’s what happened in the last games,” he said.
“Stay calm and bat till the end” is Sammy’s theory which evidently has cost most of his opponents. It was even in the last game against Pakistan that West Indies were reeling at 87 for five when Sammy and Dwayne Bravo exhibited powerful hitting in the last five overs picking 81 runs.
“For me I just stay calm. If you notice most of the partnerships, came from one of our most T20 experienced player in Dwayne (Bravo), we just stay calm and keep telling ourselves, once we bat to the end, bat deep, anything is possible we have shown that over the last few months,” he added.
The 30-year-old has grown in to a great leader for the Caribbean side over the years. He is a lively character both on and off and he said he enjoys the role, but informed that he will not continue as the Test captain after the tournament ends.
