"Average Of 25 Will Not Bring Us Success": West Indies Coach Daren Sammy Slams Poor First-Class Cricket System

Ahead of his side's three-match Test series at home against Australia, West Indies head coach Daren Sammy spoke on the team's poor first-class cricket system, saying that players averaging below 35 and being "undroppable" shows how poor the system is. WI will be kickstarting their World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle with a tough home assignment with a depleted Australia in the first Test starting from June 25 onwards. Heading into the series, WI have dropped two of their batters, Kavem Hodge (playing 11 Tests, scoring 556 runs at an average of 25.27, including a century) and Alick Athanaze (13 Tests, average of 25.08 without any century but four fifties)
On being asked about their absence during an interview on QFM Dominica, Sammy pointed out that WI are basing their selection on the basis of data and highlighted the poor health of the WI first-class cricket system.
"I had the analysts dive into the top three teams in the world and the different batting positions, what the best of the top three are doing in those different positions, the roles they are playing and then we compared them to ours and what we are doing," Sammy was quoted as saying by The Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, as quoted by Wisden.
"During that last Test World Championship [cycle], Kavem I think scored 500 runs at an average of 25. As Dominicans, we want our players to perform well, but we must not get emotional," he added.
He also said that while both players have not been discarded altogether and doors are still open, he warned against glorifying averages of 25, saying that it would not bring the team success.
"If you notice, these guys just played in the 'A' team series, so they have not been discarded, just that at this moment, the direction that the team is going, the roles that we see from the data collected that is required to play, they just do not fit that role at that moment. However, it is not the end of the road for them," Sammy said.
"I think we are doing Hodge and Alick a disservice by glorifying an average of 25 in Test cricket, thinking that myself Miles [Bascombe, West Indies' director of cricket] and Jamal [Smith, senior talent manager] have some personal vendetta against any player."
"We are trying to create an environment that breeds success, breeds excellence and we need to keep on challenging, and it shows where our cricket is right now, when players averaging below 35 seem undroppable in our system and that shows how poor our system is, for us to be really talking about a 25 average, that will not bring us success," he concluded.
Among the players selected for Aussie Tests, the uncapped batter Kevlon Anderson is the only one averaging above 40 in first-class cricket, with 44.44, with other two averaging above 35, Kraigg Brathwaite (37.99), and wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach (31.38).
West Indies Test Squad for Series Against Australia: Roston Chase (Captain), Jomel Warrican (Vice Captain), Kevlon Anderson, Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Mikyle Louis, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

First Post

29 minutes ago

• First Post

'I'm open to it': Sourav Ganguly expresses desire to coach Team India in the future

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has said that he is open to coaching the Indian team in the future. He also shared his views about the current head coach Gautam Gambhir. read more Former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has said that he is open to coaching the Indian cricket team someday. Speaking in a recent interview, Ganguly suggested that while there is nothing confirmed yet, he is not ruling out the possibility of coaching Team India. 'We'll see what the future holds. I'm just 50 (53), so let's see what happens. I'm open to it. We'll see where it goes,' Ganguly told PTI. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ganguly served as BCCI president from 2019 to 2022, a period during which Indian cricket went through a challenging phase, including Virat Kohli stepping down from captaincy across all formats and other major developments. Prior to this, he was the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). He is currently the chairman of the ICC's Cricket Committee. Ganguly lauds current coach Gambhir Gautam Gambhir is the current head coach of Team India. He took over from Rahul Dravid last year. Ganguly believes that Gambhir is doing a good job. He said Gambhir had a slow start, with losses against Australia and New Zealand, but things improved after India's Champions Trophy win. 'Gautam (Gambhir) is doing a good job. He started off a little slow, losing to Australia and New Zealand, but he picked up with the Champions Trophy. This is going to be a big series (vs England),' Ganguly said. When asked about Gambhir's tactics as a coach, Ganguly said that while he hasn't seen him up close in the role, he knows Gambhir is very passionate and clear about his views. Ganguly also recalled his playing days and how Gambhir always showed respect to his senior players. 'I haven't seen him from very close in this role, but I know he is very passionate. I haven't observed his strategies closely because I haven't worked with him as a coach. He's very straightforward, he sees things clearly, and he's very open about what he feels, about the team, players, people, everything. From the outside, you can tell he's a very transparent person - what you see is what you get.' Ganguly said. 'I've played with him. He was a great guy with a lot of respect for me and the senior players. Even now, I can see he is extremely passionate about his job. I wish him all the best. He's just a year into the job, and this will be an important (England) tour. He struggled a bit in Australia, but just like everyone else, he'll learn, he'll grow, and he'll become better,' Ganguly added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

India Gazette

3 hours ago

• India Gazette

"It's joyful to watch him bat": Dinesh Karthik hails Rishabh Pant's 134 against England

New Delhi [India], June 22 (ANI): Former cricketer Dinesh Karthik praised the Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant for his 'bold, audacious shots' on the second day of the Leeds Test against England at Headingley on Sunday. Pant slammed 134 runs off 178 balls, which was laced with 12 boundaries and six maximums, scoring at a run-rate of above 75. Speaking about Pant in a video posted by BCCI, Karthik said, 'I enjoy watching Rishabh Pant bat because of what he brings to the table. completely unpredictable. Exhilarating shots. And when I watch him, I don't know on a given day what to expect. That is the box of his test cricket. Walking in, he could just give you anything. And I love that about him. He's willing to take on and play bold, audacious shots. He's one of my most favourite cricketers to watch when he plays test cricket. Because, on a given day, he could take on any bowler depending on what he feels like is right for the day. That is so instinctive and so pure. It's joyful to watch him bat.' On Saturday, Pant overtook former skipper Rohit Sharma, becoming the team's leading six-hitter in the history of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) history. Pant's six count in WTC has gone up to 62, overtaking Rohit's tally of 56 in 40 Tests. The 27-year-old has smashed these sixes in just 35 matches, scoring a total of 2,386 runs at an average of 41.85 with five centuries and 13 fifties in his WTC career. The leading six-hitter in ICC WTC history is England skipper Ben Stokes, who has smashed 83 sixes in 54 Tests. Pant on Saturday also surpassed MS Dhoni to register the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter and continued his good show in what are regarded as tough wickets in countries outside Asia. Pant now has seven centuries, overtaking Dhoni, who has six Test centuries. This is also his fifth century in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) conditions, the most by an Asian batter. Three of these centuries have come in England and one each have come in Australia and South Africa. Also, he has equalled Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara (seven centuries) for most centuries in Tests as a designated keeper among all Asian countries. Earlier on Friday, Pant also completed his 3,000 Test runs, becoming the second Indian wicketkeeper-batter to do so after Dhoni and overtook Dhoni to become Asia's most successful wicketkeeper-batter in SENA on the basis of run count. In 44 Tests for India, Pant has scored 3,082 runs at an average of 43.40, with seven centuries and 15 fifties in 76 innings. His runs have come at a stunning strike rate of 73.69. (ANI)

India Gazette

3 hours ago

• India Gazette

Prasidh Krishna registers unfortunate record during expensive three-wicket spell at Leeds

Leeds [UK], June 23 (ANI): Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna made an unfortunate record during his spell of 3/128 against England during the first Test at Leeds, delivering the worst economy rate by an Indian bowler in a spell of at least 20 overs. During his 20 overs, Prasidh took crucial wickets for Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, and Jamie Smith, but he was often on the receiving end of brutal hitting from England batters. His economy rate of 6.40 is the worst among Indian bowlers who have bowled at least 120 balls or 20 overs in their spell. He has outdone Varun Aaron, who took 2/136 against Australia at Adelaide in 2014, going at an economy rate of 5.91. A very entertaining day of Test cricket, mostly dominated by England, came to an end with India taking a 96-run lead following the final session of the first Test at Leeds on Sunday At the end of the day's play, which was cut short due to rain, India ended with at 90/2, with KL Rahul (47*) and skipper Shubman Gill (6*) unbeaten. India kickstarted the final session at 0/0, having secured a six-run lead over England, who were bundled out for 465 runs in their first innings in reply to Team India's first innings total of 471 runs. The Asian giants were off to a poor start as Yashasvi Jaiswal could not follow up his first-innings ton with something special, falling for just four in 11 balls to Brydon Carse, edging it into the hands of wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith. India was 16/1 in 3.1 Rahul, on the other hand, was looking rock-solid, with two boundaries against Chris Woakes, and even Sai Sudharsan got a four on his first ball. Rahul was extremely watchful against pace, leaving the ball whenever needed, but punishing them with full disdain after sensing an opportunity. The duo took India to the 50-run mark in 12.1 overs. Sudharsan and Rahul steadied the ship for India, placing some well-timed boundaries at the right time. However, in the 21st over, skipper Ben Stokes got the ball and the skipper produced a miracle. Sudharsan's promising knock was cut short at 30 in 48 balls, with four boundaries. He attempted a flick, which landed into the hands of Zack Crawley at midwicket. After a first-innings duck, Sudharsan looked set for a fine score but could not convert. India was 82/2, with a 66-run partnership cut short. The final session was cut short due to rain. Rahul was joined by skipper Shubman Gill, who was unbeaten on 6*. England started the second session at 327/5, with Harry Brook (57*) and Jamie Smith (29*) unbeaten. Brook continued his counter-attack, while Smith (40 in 52 balls, with five fours and a six), Chris Woakes (38 in 55 balls, with three fours and two sixes) and Brydon Carse (22 in 23 balls, with four boundaries) also piled up useful scores. Brook missed out on his century, scoring 99 in 112 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes, with Prasidh Krishna getting him caught by Shardul Thakur at deep backwards square leg. A 55-run stand between Woakes and Carse took England past the 400-run mark, and they threatened to surpass India's first innings total before Jasprit Bumrah came in clutch. Bumrah (5/83) and Prasidh Krishna (3/128) were the top bowlers as England was bowled out for 465. England kickstarted the first session of the day at 209/3, with Ollie Pope (100*) and Brook (0*) unbeaten. While Prasidh struck early to remove Pope (106 in 137 balls, with 14 fours), Brook stitched a 51-run stand with skipper Ben Stokes (20 in 52 balls) and a 73-run stand with Smith, taking England well beyond the 300-run mark at session end. A century by Ollie Pope (106 in 137 balls, with 14 fours) and fifty from Ben Duckett (62 in 94 balls, with nine fours) on day two served as valuable contributions as well. Brief Scores: England: 465 (Ollie Pope: 106, Harry Brook 99, Jasprit Bumrah 5/83) vs India: 471 and 90/2 (KL Rahul 47*, Sai Sudharsan 30, Ben Stokes 1/18). (ANI)