Source: Trinidad & Tobago Daily Express
Sammy yesterday signalled a fresh start for the West Indies Test team following Kraigg Brathwaite’s resignation as captain. At CWI’s quarterly media briefing yesterday, the resignation of Brathwaite, 32, a veteran of 98 Tests was announced, as well as the replacement of T20 skipper Rovman Powell with Shai Hope, who also leads the One-Day International team.
“What Kraigg has done over the last five years, captaining or leading any West Indies team is always difficult. The duty of breeding leaders is also difficult. However throughout the region…we’ve been grooming leaders. What we do have is an opportunity to start fresh,” Sammy said about selecting Brathwaite’s replacement.
Sammy described the resignation of Brathwaite as a “blow” but recalled that he himself was made captain of West Indies after only nine Tests.
“It creates an amazing and exciting opportunity for us to start fresh, with new direction into the Test team. I look forward to that opportunity. We will find someone to take on the mantle after Kraigg. As difficult as it may sound, we will have a captain. The way we will groom and mould him, I have every reason to believe he will be more than capable of doing the job.
Sammy added: “For sure I promise you when the announcement is made it will be very clear.”
Wicketkeeper/batter Joshua Da Silva was the official WI vice-captain for the Pakistan tour but did not play in the Tests after being dropped.
Brathwaite’s replacement’s first assignment will be a three-Test rubber against Australia later this year. But at the start of the briefing, CWI president Dr Kishore Shallow revealed that Brathwaite was ready to go during the team’s last series against Pakistan after his side had lost the first Test. West Indies eventually drew the series 1-1.
“During the Pakistan tour after the first match, Kraigg reached out to me as president suggesting that he was going to announce his resignation pretty much on that tour,” Dr Shallow disclosed.
“This was before the second Test, so I told him it may not be the most opportune time to announce it, and he explained to me the reasons why he wanted to move on from the captaincy then.
“He explained that it was a case where he enjoys the responsibility, but he believes he could give the team more if he just focused on his batting.”
Brathwaite’s tenure as Test captain began in March 2021. Under his stewardship, West Indies secured their first Test victory in Australia in 27 years with a nail-biting eight-run win in Brisbane in 2024, in addition to leading the side to a victory in Pakistan for the first time in 34 years. Brathwaite could also count on a home series win against England in 2022 and a 2-0 series triumph over Bangladesh in challenging conditions during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.
However overall, he won just ten of 39 games, with 22 losses and seven draws.
“His longevity, the respect he commands in the team, and his maturity in progressing both personally and as part of the team are exactly the qualities we need in our next captain,” Sammy added.
Echoing those sentiments, Dr Shallow also remarked on the road ahead, saying: ”For us as a team, looking at the next cycle, it’s going to be tough. But with our current group and leadership, I have no doubt we can plan, execute and improve further.”
Similarly, CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe also lauded Brathwaite’s leadership, thanking him for his service and hinting at continued leadership from within the squad.
Video tributes were paid to both Brathwaite and Powell during the briefing.
In his video, Brathwaite explained, “I believe this is the right time for someone else to wear the cap…We must always do what’s best for the team.”
Powell’s removal explained.
Explaining the decision to replace Powell with Hope, Sammy said it was about progressing the T20 side.
“To some of us on the outside it might be surprising, but to us on the inside of the cricket, it’s not something that we just came up and just threw at the public. We’ve had conversations with Rovman just after the World Cup and leading to this point on some of the things we would like to achieve as a team.
“I would like to commend Rovman. What we have been able to achieve as a T20 team under his leadership has been somewhat exciting and very productive. However, in a world that’s ever-changing…from the leadership standpoint, it is important to understand what and who will take us there.”
Asked about Powell’s reaction on being told of his axing, Sammy said: “Rovman was quite professional about the conversation.” He added: “As difficult as it might have been, I think my relationship with Rovman and the rest of the guys…we don’t shy away from difficult conversations… He said he understood where we were coming from.”
