The West Indies and their head coach Daren Sammy will be chasing history when they face England in the third and decisive One-Day International (ODI) at Kensington Oval on Saturday.
With the three-match series tied at 1-1, a victory for the Windies on Saturday will give the regional side their first ODI series win over England in 16 years, having last defeated them 2-1 in 2007 in the NatWest Series played in England.
The last time the two teams met in an ODI series in 2019 that five-match series ended in a 2-2 draw.
The two teams arrived on the island this morning and in an interview with members of the media at the Grantley Adams International Airport, Sammy said he was confident the regional outfit would rise to the occasion.
“It’s important for both teams. We started off really well in Antigua [and] I’m a little bit disappointed with the performance in the second ODI, but we are coming to Barbados with all to play for and it plays out for interesting and competitive cricket,” Sammy said during the interview on the tarmac.
“My men, the efforts we put in in the camp leading towards that series, we are in a good space right now and we are looking forward to the game on Saturday.”
While acknowledging that there would be pressure on both teams, he said the West Indies’ preparations leading up to the series would put them in good stead.
Sammy said it was important for the West Indies to not only compete, but to win.
“Once I understand what the job entails pressure comes in all forms, but like I said I believe we have prepared well and I’m pleased with the preparation that we put in and the work that the guys put in, and now once that bell rings all the things we spoke about, the plans that we put together, it’s up to us as a group to go out there and execute.
“We’ve shown that we can do it in the first game and I have full confidence that the guys can go out and do it. They know what’s at stake, everybody knows what’s at stake and to still be in a position where we could win, that’s the mentality I’m trying to bring to this group. We don’t want to compete, we want to win games and make sure that the wins are closer together and hopefully come Saturday we can do that against England,” Sammy noted.
The head coach said the team was eagerly looking forward to playing at ‘The Mecca’ and he was hoping for an electric atmosphere in the series decider.
randybennett@barbadostoday.bb
