Daren Sammy Named Head Coach of West Indies Men’s Cricket Team Across All Formats

Sammy to Take Charge from April 2025, Replacing Andre Coley as Test Coach

Daren Sammy has been appointed the new head coach of the West Indies men’s cricket team across all formats, including Test cricket. Sammy, who has been coaching the West Indies T20I and ODI teams since last year, will officially take charge of the Test side from April 2025, replacing Andre Coley. The announcement was made by CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe in St. Vincent.

Sammy’s Reaction to the Appointment

At a press conference, Sammy expressed his surprise and honor at the new role:

“It’s always an honour to represent West Indies in any format or any position. For me, this news is not something I was expecting. Coaching was never something I saw myself doing but I must admit the way that it’s been going, I’ve developed a much stronger passion and a love for the job.”

He also shared his excitement about taking on the challenge of coaching in all formats:

“I believe in processes, something that we’ve been able to do in the white-ball formats and, with this new role, I’ve already mapped out some of the areas and some of the processes that we’ll have to follow in order for us to be successful [in Test cricket]. I’m a patient man and once I trust that process and understand the requirement from the director of cricket, then the plan gets into action.”

Sammy’s Success as White-Ball Coach

Under Sammy’s leadership, the West Indies have had significant success in the white-ball formats:

ODIs: 15 wins out of 28 matches since May 2023, including four bilateral series wins.
T20Is: Won four series at home (against India, England, and South Africa) and 20 wins out of 35 matches.

Challenges in Test Cricket

Despite successes in white-ball formats, the West Indies Test team has faced challenges under Andre Coley since May 2023:

Test record: Seven losses, two draws, and two wins.
Highlights: A thrilling eight-run victory over Australia in Brisbane earlier this year.
World Test Championship: West Indies are currently at the bottom of the WTC points table, with no series wins in this period.

Bascombe’s Praise for Sammy and Coley

CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe praised Sammy for the consistency he has brought to the West Indies white-ball teams, highlighting his strategic planning:

“We have been quite impressed with the way that he has charted a course for our white-ball teams, and he has guided them towards consistency of performance, and that is exactly what we want to see in our Test team.”

Bascombe also acknowledged Andre Coley’s contribution, confirming that he will complete his World Test Championship campaign in Pakistan with full support.

Sammy’s Past Coaching Success

Before taking up the West Indies coaching role, Sammy was already a successful coach in domestic leagues:

CPL (Caribbean Premier League):
- In 2020, led the St Lucia Kings to the CPL final.
- Became head coach in 2022, guiding the team to the Eliminator.
PSL (Pakistan Super League):
- Coached Peshawar Zalmi in 2020, 2021, and 2023.

Sammy’s leadership skills and popularity were key factors in the success of the teams he coached, especially in the PSL where he was a mainstay since the league’s inception in 2016.

Looking Forward

Sammy is excited about this new journey, which will see him manage West Indies cricket across all formats:

“I’m really excited about the added responsibility and the new journey, one that I think myself and my team will be prepared for.”

Key Takeaways

Daren Sammy will take over as head coach of West Indies men’s cricket team across all formats from April 2025.
Sammy’s Leadership: Successful coach of the T20I and ODI teams, with notable achievements in both formats.
Test Team’s Struggles: West Indies have faced challenges in Test cricket under Andre Coley.
Sammy’s Coaching Background: Achievements in CPL and PSL underscore his ability as a leader and strategist.