Kolkata: “Whatever wicket they will provide, we will play,” said West Indies skipper Darren Sammy on the eve of the ICC World Twenty20 final against England here at the Eden Gardens on Sunday.
Sammy – the only skipper after MS Dhoni (India) to play more than one final in the shortest format of the World Cup – revealed the real reason behind the team’s starry outing in the World Cup. No, it isn’t the IPL. The word is insult.
West Indies, after dealing with insults and umbrage over a period of time, became stronger.
Chris Gayle in the nets at Eden Gardens ahead of tomorrow's final
Posted by Windies Cricket on Saturday, April 2, 2016
Read: England vs West India World T20 Final: Darren dares, Morgan dreams
Sammy spoke about the tweet by coach Phil Simmons minutes after their victory against India. Simmons had written: “Awesome display by this group men with no brains, imagine if we had some.” It was in reference to a pre tournament preview by Mark Nicholas in ESPNCricinfo in which he called the Caribbeans brainless with only IPL history.
The pre tournament shenanigans got us closer. It was us against the rest of the world. There are many who still don’t respect us. The key for us is the belief,” said Sammy, a veteran of 65 T20Is.
“Even animals have brains, how could you say that? Only one person who can beat us is we – ourselves,” he added.
However, he praised the England team for the good show throughout the tournament and despite a win against them in the group stage, West Indies is not going to take the Englishmen lightly.
Also Read: Dhoni is a great captain but Windies deserve to be in the finals: Ganguly
They have their strengths, I want an exciting match because Eden Gardens is a special place. This is going to be skill versus skill,” said Sammy, who is yet to showcase his talent with the bat in the tournament.
Before the India test, Sammy said it is going to be David versus Goliath. Though the Caribbeans’ Test and ODI records haven’t been impressive, Sammy is hopeful of a revolution.
“David is always the winner,” he said.
West Indies cricket is stuffed with problems over payment to cricketers with rough waters between the players and the bosses. The World Cup victory could be a new dawn.
