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West Indies cricket cancer diagnosis: Darren Sammy says despite ‘deep-rooted’ issues coaches, players and selectors too have to take responsibility

West Indies coach accepts that facilities are lacking back home but wants his players to make the best of what they have

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Oct 9, 2025 01:43 PM IST

West Indies’ coach Darren Sammy addresses a press conference, ahead of the second and final Test cricket match of the series between India and West Indies, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (PTI Photo)

West Indies batting great Brian Lara is pained at the current state of the once-powerful side for whom he made nearly 12,000 Test runs. He has questioned the passion that the current crop of players have to represent the Caribbean region. West Indies coach Daren Sammy agrees to the argument in spirit, and feels that his players need to make a statement on the pitch to prove otherwise.

After his side’s innings defeat inside three days in Ahmedabad last week, skipper Roston Chase cut a frustrated figure when he bemoaned the current state of West Indies, blaming lack of funding and talent drain towards lucrative franchise cricket. But ahead of the second Test starting in New Delhi on Friday, Sammy was said that while all these factors were at play, they shouldn’t become excuses for poor performances.

“Guess what? We never had the world’s best facilities, but in the past, we dominated world cricket for 17 years at a stretch,” Sammy told The Indian Express on the sidelines of West Indies’ training session at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday.

When the former West Indies skipper took the job of coach of the national side across formats late last year, along with being one of the team’s selectors, he faced the unenviable task of reviving his region’s cricketing fortunes. He knows that his contribution will be under the spotlight, but is not shying away from the responsibility.

“I know that things have to get better (for cricket in West Indies). But the onus is on us; not just the players, but also the coaches and the support staff to make the best of what we have. It is my job to keep on inspiring and motivating the group, to find ways to make the guys consistent,” Sammy said.

He pointed to recent batting collapses – most prominent among them being all out for 27 in a Test against Australia in Jamaica earlier this year, and failure to breach 200 in either innings in Ahmedabad – as examples of the improvement that needs to be made.

“Our (batting) has been poor. The mindset has to be different. The mindset prepares the skillset. If you’re not prepared to work hard, you get nowhere,” he said. “A quick example: Shubman Gill, in 2021, you could see he had an obvious deficiency against the ball coming back (into the stumps/pads). In 2025, you don’t see those same problems, he is a much better player. We have got guys getting out the same way they were three or four years ago.”

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Later, while addressing the press conference, Sammy would delve deeper into some of the issues West Indies cricket is facing.

“The problems don’t just start now, they are like cancer, deep-rooted into the system,” he said.

Once again, he shifted attention to the controllables.

“Despite all our problems, we must be prepared to outwork the opposition. The immediate fix is to train harder. You don’t need talent to work hard,” he added.

Namit Kumar

Namit Kumar is a Senior Sports Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. He is known for his versatile reporting across several major sports disciplines. Professional Profile Specializations: He covers a wide variety of sports including tennis, football, cricket, and motorsports. Focus: His writing often delves into the finer details and technical analysis of the sports he covers. Social Media: You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @namitkumar_17. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Namit’s recent work focuses heavily on international cricket series and domestic tournaments, as well as high-profile global tennis events: International Cricket (India vs South Africa Series): "Intelligence, skill, and heart: How Arshdeep Singh took out Reeza Hendricks" (Dec 15, 2025) — A detailed analysis of Arshdeep's tactical comeback in the T20I series. "How India's seamers froze South Africa in chilly Dharamshala" (Dec 14, 2025). "Why India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill losing form, is the start of a blunt headache" (Dec 12, 2025) — An analytical piece on the statistics and form of India's leadership duo. "Quinton de Kock dismantles Indian bowling combination with silent savagery" (Dec 11, 2025). Domestic Cricket (Ranji Trophy): "Ranji Trophy: J&K conquer Kotla and Delhi for first time" (Nov 11, 2025) — Reporting on the historic first win for Jammu & Kashmir over Delhi in the tournament's history. "What makes J&K pacer Auqib Nabi special" (Nov 8, 2025) — A profile on the pacer's accuracy and swing. "Unearthing the next Virat Kohli still a while away but Delhi's young batting talent full of promise" (Oct 24, 2025). Tennis and Golf: "Jannik Sinner's winter-time madness: How Italian refined his game to beat Alcaraz" (Nov 17, 2025) — A deep dive into Sinner’s technical improvements following his US Open loss. "Everyone's come to watch Rory McIlroy but keep an eye out for 'people's champion' Tommy Fleetwood" (Oct 17, 2025). Football Tactics: "Why are long throw-ins giving football defenders and lawmakers a headache?" (Nov 2, 2025) — An analytical piece on the evolving strategies surrounding throw-ins in modern football. Reporting Style Namit is active in covering the Delhi sports scene, providing detailed match reports for international cricket matches and Ranji Trophy fixtures at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. He also provides on-the-ground reporting for happenings in the city, such as his recent coverage of the DP World India Championship golf event. Additionally, he actively writes on tennis, analysing matches and reporting on major events, especially during the Grand Slam tournaments. ... Read More

Tanishq Vaddi

Tanishq Vaddi is a Sports Writer with the online team of The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. He primarily covers cricket and is known for his in-depth analysis and technical reporting on the game. Professional Background Role: He covers a wide range of cricketing action, including international matches (Tests, T20Is), domestic tournaments (Challenger Trophy), and major cricket leagues (IPL, WPL). Education: Tanishq holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from MVSR Engineering College and a PG Diploma in English Journalism (Print) from the Asian School of Journalism. Experience: Before joining The Indian Express in late 2022, he gained experience covering the startup ecosystem at YourStory and worked as a copywriter at Story Digital. Key Areas of Coverage Tanishq’s writing often focuses on the technical and psychological aspects of cricket. His notable work includes: Technical Analysis: Explaining bowling actions (e.g., Simon Harmer’s bounce) and batting techniques (e.g., Ben Duckett’s sweep shot). Interviews: He has interviewed prominent figures such as former England player Nick Knight, bowling coach Rajib Datta, and mental health coach Paddy Upton. Statistical Comparisons: Detailed career analysis, such as comparing Shubman Gill’s early career stats with legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Regional Cricket: Reporting on developments in South Indian cricket, including the appointment of Gary Stead as the head coach for Andhra. Notable Recent Articles "IND vs SA 2nd Test: How did Simon Harmer beat Yashasvi Jaiswal with bounce?" (Nov 2025) "2026 Under-19 World Cup: Bowling coach outlines India's preparation" (Nov 2025) "Nick Knight interview: Joe Root will score big runs in Australia" (Nov 2025) "Gary Stead appointed as head coach for Andhra for the 25/26 season" (Sept 2025) "Jason Gillespie explains what makes Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins so special, and why reverse swing will be key with Kookaburra ball" You can follow his latest reports on the Indian Express website or via his Twitter handle @TanishqVaddi. ... Read More

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