Reports: Darren Sammy to be axed as West Indies Test captain

Darren Sammy

Port of Spain, May 9 (IANS/CMC) West Indies’ Test captain Darren Sammy is set to be axed and replaced by Denesh Ramdin for the upcoming New Zealand series, the Trinidad Guardian reported.

Quoting an unnamed source in a Thursday report, the newspaper said Ramdin has already received the nod from the West Indies selectors and the final decision would be made during a teleconference of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) directors later.

“Denesh received a call from chairman of the selection panel Clyde Butts who asked him whether or not he was interested in leading the regional team in Test cricket,” the Trinidad Guardian quoted the source as saying.

“Denesh indicated that he was willing to take on the challenge and this message was passed on to the WICB for ratification. By the end of the teleconference, the region would know who will be at the helm for the New Zealand series.”

Sammy took over the helm of the West Indies in 2010 but last year was relieved of his duties as One-Day Internatinal captain and replaced by all-rounder Dwayne Bravo. He has continued to lead the Test and Twenty20 units but disastrous results on the Test tours of India and New Zealand last year raised doubts about his position.

The source said Sammy’s inability to command a place in the Test XI, outside of his role as captain, was of concern.

“Although the WICB has not made a decision on whether they will go with Ramdin or stick with Sammy, it seems that the all-rounder is under serious pressure. He has not commanded a place in the team outside of being captain and some see his inclusion as one that has thrown off selectors when it comes to getting the right XI,” the source said.

“His record has not been up to par in recent time and this will do him no favours when the directors give their two cents at this teleconference. Ramdin, on the other hand, has improved tremendously with the bat over the last year or so and is tactically a better leader than Sammy.”

During his tenure, Sammy has been credited with uniting the squad and returning stability and discipline. Despite this, the West Indies, continue to languish at No.8 in the Test rankings.

Meanwhile, Ramdin has served as Sammy’s deputy in the past but is no stranger to controversy. Only last year during the Champions Trophy in England, he was fined his full match fee and suspended for two one-day matches for wrongly claiming a catch against Pakistan.

During the 2012 Test tour of England, he was fined 20 percent of his match fee for a taunt aimed at West Indies legend Sir Viv Richards after scoring a century at Edgbaston.