West Indies head coach Daren Sammy insists his squad stays composed and united as they put together for the second Check in opposition to world‑quantity‑one Australia on the Nationwide Cricket Stadium, starting July 3.
Regardless of a bruising 159‑run defeat in Barbados, Sammy declared, “We’ve simply began a Check Championship and the XI we picked continues to be our greatest stability. After one sport, there’s no want for panic.”
Classes from Bridgetown
The opening contest at Kensington Oval provided two gripping days of parity earlier than a brittle batting collapse—190 and 141 all out—and a rash of seven dropped catches tilted the match Australia’s method. Quick‑bowling spearheads Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales every seized 5‑wicket hauls, but the assist solid faltered at decisive moments.
“You can not drop seven catches in opposition to the world’s primary group and count on to compete on a regular basis,” Sammy conceded. “We shot ourselves within the foot, however there have been positives. For the primary two days, we have been head‑to‑head with them.”
Shifting previous the umpiring storm
Sammy was fined 15 per cent of his match payment for publicly questioning third‑umpire Adrian Holdstock—a flashpoint he now considers closed.
“There was some admission of error. That was Barbados and we’re now in Grenada,” he informed reporters. “I don’t maintain grudges… I’ve left it behind. I want Adrian all the perfect.”
Stick or twist? Sammy stands agency
With no personnel adjustments anticipated, the onus falls on acquainted faces to appropriate acquainted flaws. The coach’s blueprint: sharper catching, fuller use of batting overs, and—the place attainable—a brisker scoring tempo.
“Both you rating sooner to convey the sport nearer otherwise you bat extra overs,” Sammy famous. “We’ve chosen a squad that ought to permit us to do each… we’re taking steps towards a method that helps us enhance.”
Whether or not confronted with a placid floor or a bowler‑pleasant seam of inexperienced, execution should sharpen if the Windies are to sq. the three‑match collection.
Brathwaite’s milestone: 100 Assessments of grit
Former skipper Kraigg Brathwaite stands getting ready to a uncommon landmark: his one centesimal Check look.
“I used to be privileged to captain when Kraigg debuted in 2011,” Sammy mirrored. “To educate him now, 14 years later, speaks volumes about his contribution. Degree the collection in his one centesimal Check—that will be particular.”
Greater image: World Check Championship trajectory
Within the earlier two WTC cycles, West Indies ranked among the many slowest first‑innings scorers and confronted the fewest overs. Sammy’s mandate is to reverse these developments, cultivating a “tradition, model and method of enjoying” that rewards initiative with out sacrificing resilience.
“After we do issues nicely, we compete with the perfect,” he reminded. “It’s about placing all sides collectively, sustaining strain, and—crucially—not dropping the possibilities that come.”
With readability restored and tempers cooled, the Caribbean facet steps into Grenada decided to remodel exhausting‑earned classes into a press release victory.
