Sammy wants more convincing victories

IANS/North Sound, Antigua

West Indies captain Darren Sammy says he wants to see more West Indies victories similar to the 41 run win over Zimbabwe in the final T20 International Sunday.

The world champions brushed aside Zimbabwe to sweep the two match series at the Vivian Richards cricket ground.

Windies triumphed in the T20 series following success in the three match One Day International series at the national stadium in Grenada.

“It was a very good weekend for the team. We came out here after winning the One-Day Series and we had clinical victories in both matches,” said Sammy, who returned to skipper the side in the T20s after resting for the ODIs.

“Those are the kind of victories we want to see whether we play against Australia or Zimbabwe. We beat Australia a few weeks ago at the Gabba and now we have come here and completed a great job against the Zimbabweans.”

The Windies are playing at home for the first time since winning the ICC T20 title in Sri Lanka last year.

Sammy says the Windies convincing win over Zimbabwe is proof of their world dominance in the shortest version of the sport.

“We didn’t just win, we beat them convincingly. We are listed much higher than them in the rankings and we wanted to prove that we are a better team,” Sammy told WICB media.

Sunday’s win was the eighth victory in a row for the West Indies, whose winning streak started during the ICC World T20 last year when they were crowned world champions.

Man-of-the-Match Samuel Badree took a career-best 3-17 off four overs Sunday.

“Badree bowled really well and he continues to do what he has done so very well for Trinidad & Tobago in the Caribbean T20 and the Champions Trophy, and what he did for us in the World Cup,” said Sammy.

“He normally bowls very economically and was outstanding again and provided us with the perfect start after we posted a good total.”

The West Indies and Zimbabwe will begin their test series next week.

Andy Roberts not happy over lack of support for Clive Lloyd

St. John’s, Antigua: West Indies fast-bowling legend Andy Roberts has criticised the regional boards for refusing to support former captain Clive Lloyd’s bid to be president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

Lloyd was nominated by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) but a deadline ran out before regional cricket boards could second the nomination as stipulated by WICB election rules.

Roberts, who has served on various WICB committees, said Lloyd would have been the ideal person for the position, given his history and track record of leadership.

“I am not happy with recent developments surrounding the race for president,” Roberts said in an interview with the Gleaner.

“They (territorial boards) are saying that Lloyd indicated late, but sometimes it is better late than never.”

Lloyd had approached the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) and the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) to second his nomination but both declined to back him for varying reasons.

The TTCB said it wanted to remain neutral, while the BCA had earlier indicated its support for incumbent candidate Julian Hunte.

“Lloyd has a proven track record leading from the front and is a respected figure around the region,” said Roberts.

“He would have been my choice for president, and it is just a pity the territorial boards did not accept his offer.”

Since leading the West Indies to World Cup glory twice in the late 1970s, Lloyd has served on numerous International Cricket Council cricket committees.

It is the second time that he has failed in his attempt to become president after failing to meet residency requirements in a previous bid.

The election, a straight fight between incumbent Hunte and WICB vice-president Whycliffe Cameron for president, will be held March 27 in Barbados during the WICB’s annual general meeting.

The AGM will also see the race for vice-president being contested with former West Indies fast bowler and president of the BCA, Joel Garner, going up against Dominican diplomat Emmanual Nanthan.

Garner and Hunte are running on the same ticket with Nanthan and Cameron partnering each other on the next.