Sammy demands bowling improvement

SOUTHAMPTON, England (CMC):

WEST INDIES head coach Daren Sammy has called for urgent improvements in his team’s bowling attack after a crushing 3-0 T20I series loss to England.

The former World Cup-winning captain admitted his concerns over the side’s inability to handle pressure, particularly with the ball, as they prepare for next year’s T20 World Cup.

Speaking after the final defeat, Sammy highlighted the lack of discipline in execution as a major issue.

“I think it’s a question of skills when we are put under the pressure. Do we have the skill set to be disciplined with our plans? Do we back our ability long enough? It’s something especially from a bowling perspective. We’ve been trying to figure out how to restrict ourselves when we’re put under pressure.”

England’s batters dominated throughout the series, with only Rovman Powell from the regional side scoring more than 100 runs in three innings.

West Indies bowlers also struggled to contain the onslaught from the English batters, and Sammy pointed to the home side’s ability to recover after early setbacks as an example his team must follow.

“They might have patches where a batter gets on top, but they always seem to have the ability to pull it back. We’ve seen England do it time and time again, where they have the ability to go to a plan and get results. To me, that’s the most worrying thing.”

Despite the struggles, Sammy insisted he has faith in his squad, which he believes still has a plethora of world-class talent.

“I look at my team and I say, I’ve got the best players from the Caribbean here.”

However, with the T20 World Cup just eight months away, he acknowledged the need for quick solutions.

The former all-rounder expressed confidence in the batting unit, which has shown consistency in recent years, but warned that the bowlers must pull their weight if the team is to see any form of improvement.

“I think the batting will be more consistent. They have been over the last two years, but we can’t keep asking our batters to chase down high 200s. When we set 190 or 200, our bowling will need to defend itself.”

Despite the heavy defeats, Sammy remained optimistic even as the team travelled to Ireland for another series.

“I’m a very positive guy. I believe that between now and the World Cup, we will get the right combination.”