KANDY – Despite watching rain wreck the just concluded three-Test series against Sri Lanka, West Indies captain Darren Sammy has still managed to find positives amidst the gloom.
“Young (Darren) Bravo scoring fifties in all three Tests … the bowling of Kemar Roach, the batting of Chris Gayle and the whole fighting spirit the team showed are positives for us throughout the series,” said Sammy, who is leading the regional side for the first time.
“The way we went out and played one of the top three sides it was good coming down to Sri Lanka and doing well. When I left home, we knew it was going to be a tough series. But the players have made my job very easy.”
Bravo was indeed a stand-out in the drawn series with no victories for either team. Batting with the maturity and flair of a seasoned player, the stylish 21-year-old left-hander stroked 58 in the Galle Test, splendid 80 in the affair in Colombo before returning with a superb 68 in Kandy.
The 22-year-old Roach, meanwhile, collected ten wickets at 24.5 runs to win the Man of the Series award.
While Sammy lamented the abysmal weather, he said the drawn result was pleasing for the side which has never won a series in Sri Lanka.
“When we left, we said we would settle for a draw or a win. Despite the weather, which has been totally out of our control, the one Test match where we had five days of cricket (at Galle) we basically dominated,” he pointed out.
He continued: “In the cricket we played there were a lot of positives but there is still a lot of room for improvements. I am learning to do my job efficiently and I would like to see personal improvements.”
West Indies will now turn their attention to the five-match One-Day series which bowl off on Thursday in the coastal city of Hambantota. (CMC)
