West Indies have manpower to win series, says Sammy

CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC):

DESPITE BEING thoroughly outplayed by England in the first two T20 Internationals, West Indies’ white-ball head coach Daren Sammy believes the home side has the necessary manpower to pull off a comeback victory in the final three matches.

England lead the best-of-five series 2-0 after registering emphatic eight-wicket and seven-wicket victories over the Windies at Kensington Oval on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

It means the West Indies will have to win the remaining three matches, the first of which bowls off at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia tomorrow.

When asked if he felt the West Indies had the ability to pull off the herculean task, Sammy said he fully believed they could.

“Most definitely, especially here in St Lucia. Yes, England has played better cricket than us in the first two games, but I’ve rallied St Lucia to come out and be that extra 12th man that we need here.

“The guys have just not played the brand of cricket that has allowed us to win, and it is something that we are going to address, but we have the manpower within that dressing room to win on Thursday and take it one game at a time,” Sammy said.

The West Indies will have to do without the services of explosive all-rounder Andre Russell, who has been ruled out of the series with an ankle injury, which he sustained in Saturday’s opening T20I.

However, they will have the services of leading fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who has been named in the squad after serving a two-game suspension.

Sammy admitted that while Russell’s absence would be a tough loss, he said Shamar Springer, who has been named as his replacement, had the tools to get the job done.

“It’s always a blow to replace someone like Andre Russell, very experienced, brings two assets in bowling and batting and also with his fielding, so it’s always hard to replace him,” Sammy said.

“We have young Shamar Springer who made his debut in Sri Lanka to replace him, an exciting, young prospect.

“Shamar [Joseph] is going and get ready for the Test series and obviously Alzarri Joseph is back from his suspension, and we are looking forward to welcoming him and the experience he brings in this squad.

“Yes, we lost two key guys, but we get two guys who are capable of doing the job for the team,” the head coach added.