WEST INDIES TEST CAPTAIN Darren Sammy is just one spot away from realizing his goal of seeing the regional side ranked among the world’s top five cricket teams.
Earlier this week the International Cricket Council (ICC) released the latest Test rankings which saw the West Indies move up one place to No. 6.
The regional side are on 99 points, trailing Pakistan (102) and Australia (105) who are fifth and fourth, respectively.
South Africa, on 135 points, retain the No. 1 ranking, followed by India (116) and England (112).
From the time Sammy was appointed captain in 2010, he made it clear that one of his main goals was to see the team reinstated as one of the top sides in the world.
“This shows that we are getting closer to our goals,” Sammy said when asked about their recent leapfrog over Sri Lanka and into the No. 6 spot in an audio excerpt released by the West Indies Cricket Board.
“Coach Ottis Gibson and I have made it clear on many occasions that being in the top five in world cricket and in Test match cricket is one of our goals.
“This shows the work we have been doing and the way that they check the points system, that we have been doing okay and we just have to continue doing what we have been doing.”
Although the regional side didn’t play many Test matches this year, Sammy said they were anxiously looking forward to their upcoming tour of New Zealand where they would play two Test matches.
He said they would be hoping for victories in both matches.
The West Indies are currently on a historic run of winning six Test matches in a row, the first time that they have achieved such a feat in over 20 years.
“I think it is the hard work which is being done by the players which has gotten us to this point.
“If you look at the Test matches we’ve played; we’ve played two against Zimbabwe, two against Bangladesh and two against New Zealand, we have played very well.
“We have had guys who have taken five wickets on many occasions and batsmen scoring hundreds, and we have played together as a team.” Â
Sammy pointed to the fact that several West Indies players were ranked among the best in the world as testament to the progress of both the team and individuals alike.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is currently ranked second in the batting ratings, and both Kemar Roach and Shane Shillingford are ranked among the Top 25 bowlers.
“We are working hard and it’s good to see that we are making a step towards our team targets and goals,” Sammy added.
“This is a big step for us and who knows what will happen in the next couple of months.
“Maybe we will see ourselves in the top five and that would mean that the work which coach Gibson and the players have been doing is working.”
