West Indies men’s white-ball team cricket coach Daren Sammy has asked the supporters of the Caribbean team to “rally round the West Indies” as they look ahead to the visit of England for One-day international (ODI) and Twenty20 international matches in December.
Sammy, who captained the West Indies to T20 World Cup wins in 2012 and 2016, made the call in a letter to fans.
“I want to urge you to join your “Home” team and rally round the West Indies when WI come home to face England in December,” Sammy wrote.
“Let’s fill stands with our pride and joy; let’s paint the town Maroon and have a blessed Christmas Season on and off the field,” the former captain added.
Sammy, who was appointed West Indies white-ball head coach in May 2023, said he would love to see Caribbean cricket fans show their support in their unique way.
“It always feels great to see the West Indies flags flying, hearing our music, and seeing the dancing in the stands as we celebrate what is truly a unique way of watching the game in this part of the world,” said the Windies white-ball head coach.
“Every match, no matter where we play, no matter who we play against, has the ability to create history and a lasting legacy. I know the feeling: we saw it in 2012 in Sri Lanka and we witnessed it again in 2016 in India,” Sammy added.
Sammy said as West Indies captain he saw how the region can come together as one and he knows and believes that we can achieve greater things.
The ODIs will be played at Antigua (December 3 and 6) and Barbados (December 9), while the T20Is will be played across Barbados (December 12), Grenada (December 14 and 16), and Trinidad (December 19 and 21).
WI have had good recent history against the English in the Caribbean, as the regional team won a riveting T20I series by a 3-2 margin in January 2022. WI also managed a 1-0 Test series victory over the English in March last year. England, winners of the 2019 50-over World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup, were booted out of the ongoing World Cup in India after finishing seventh on the ten-team table in the group stage of the tournament.
It will start with selections based on performance and not insularity , we will support then