Take A Bow Skipper

Darren Sammy

Okay, so another hobby horse ... one I've spoken about before.

When will the former West Indies champions pull their heads in, shut their mouths and support the work being done by Otis Gibson and Darren Sammy? Both unpopular choices after controversial predecessors, they and the group of players they have moulded, have delivered the first ICC trophy to the Caribbean since Clive Lloyd held up the World Cup in 1979.

Here's what I said in June, after the West Indies had been beaten by England and immediately following the Dinesh Ramdin crack at Viv Richards ...

Darren Sammy continues to build his team and is vital to their self-belief. Calls for his sacking by formers such as Michael Holding are perplexing. It seems that the easiest sport to play in the West Indies is the tearing down of players who turn up and give their all. On the side lines, certain glory hunters and guns for hire sit, waiting to ride back into town on their snow white chargers, as former players cheer and whoop, concerned only about winning. I wonder if the old men of the time had been calling on Clive Lloyd's head in 1975 and the sacking of his babies after Australia thrashed them 5-1. The likes of Richards, Greenidge, Rowes, Kallicharan, Roberts and Holding might not have been seen again if Garry Sobers or Rohan Kanhai had torn them apart. Instead they talked of potential, guts and their love of the game. They called for patience and support.

As much as I don't rate this hit and giggle stuff and as dangerous as I believe the love of money becomes in professional sport, the performance by Sammy and his men and the support staff must be acknowledged. To play the rest of the world and win - in any form, of any sport - is the ultimate aim of any sportsman. To do that and be the person in charge ... well it gets no better.

There is little doubt that Darren Sammy posses only average skills for the game at international level and that he will only occasionally lead by his individual performance but that's not the vital role he has played. West Indies cricket was in turmoil when he was invited to captain all three sides. Chris Gayle spat his dummy all the way to India and then Australia and blamed everyone in Caribbean Cricket for what was at least half his fault. Shiv Chanderpaul was on the verge of quitting when the West Indies Board was overly precious about some direct words he said in a radio interview. He speaks so seldom, any words would have been devastating. The past came at Sammy in waves to raise their demands, with very few offering anything in the way of hands on help. Even when they did, they got the pig and stormed off.

Quietly, gently, he has encouraged and cajoled to the point that even Gayle wanted back in and value added in this tournament. Sammy has bought out the best in Marlon Samuels, a man destined to remain wasted talent but who has been the form batsman in the world this year. The skipper waited for Narine to decide he wanted Test cricket and folded him into the side like a chef might fold milk gently into a soufflé. He has turned Ravi Rampaul into a dangerous bowler in all conditions and gets the best from erratic performers like Fidel Edwards. He allows Chanderpaul to bat where he feels comfortable and to do the job only he can do. He lets his players to see his passion but even at his most animated he remains a gentleman, respecting those around him from umpires to opposing players. His big hand is the first so slap your back, no matter if you have just taken a screamer or dropped a sitter. He has stood with his players as Ian Chappell did, never ducking responsibility or blame.

He is captain before he is a player.

His hands on the trophy are the most deserved ... and best the old farts just fast track themselves to hell.