Sammy wants same attitude for second Test

DHAKA, Bangladesh (CMC):

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy has pinpointed the team’s thorough preparation as the main reason behind its success in the opening Test against Bangladesh.

The Windies demolished the home side by eight wickets inside four days at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Speaking in an interview following the victory, Sammy said the decision to allow the players to train at the Super Kings Academy in Chennai, India, after the conclusion of their white-ball series there, played a major role in helping the team adjust to conditions in Bangladesh.

“I must commend the entire team for the way we fought, we stayed in the game.

“But I must go to the preparation that was put into that camp. Kudos to Cricket West Indies for allowing us to practise and prepare in Chennai at the Academy. Floyd Reifer, and the work that he did with the batters, preparing them for these conditions, led us to what you saw from the batters versus spin,” Sammy said.

“If you look at how we’ve been progressing as a Test team, I think the team is now settling; the roles that we’ve challenged each player to play, they seem to be settling in that role.

“And then, obviously, the preparations that we put in once we got here and seeing it transfer into the match, that was always pleasing for us.”

However, Sammy said he was not surprised by the result, noting that the regional side had shown steady improvement in the Test format in recent months.

With the win, the West Indies are set to finish the year undefeated in a Test series for the first time in 32 years.

“Just the way that we bowled, I think our spinners outbowled their spinners and our batsmen responded to playing spin better than theirs, and I think that was one of the most pleasing things for me and coach Floyd,” Sammy said.

Despite the convincing victory, the head coach said the team was not resting on its laurels and would be going all out for a win in the second Test, which begins at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium next Monday.

He maintained that the Windies’ main goal in this World Test Championship cycle was to secure a sixth-place finish, a target that remains achievable if they win the final match.

“Same mentality, a little bit more hunger. The captain has challenged them from the time we got here about what the mission is. It is also important that we finish the year on a high.

“One thing I know about Phil [Simmons] is that he will not make it easy. He wants to win as well, they have their own goals in the Test Championship as well, but I’m pretty sure with what I see from the guys: the hunger, the determination, the willingness to work hard and the attention to detail they put in their preparation, it tells me that whatever we face in Sylhet, we will be ready,” Sammy said.