Sammy targets winning start as WI face Ireland in ODI series

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy is hopeful his team can launch their 2025 international campaign on a winning note as they gear up for the first of three One-Day Internationals against Ireland in Dublin.

The series is set to bowl off on May 21 and continues on May 23 and May 25, before the team travels to England for another trio of ODIs and three T20 Internationals.

Fresh off their first training session since arriving in Ireland, Sammy expressed confidence in his squad’s energy and focus, despite the five-month break since their last outing against Bangladesh in December.

“First of all, it’s good to be back on the job. We haven’t played since December, so it is good to be in Ireland now, having our first practice and seeing the guys eager to go. Our mission hasn’t changed; everything we’ve been building since 2023 is toward the 2027 World Cup, so we are still on that quest. There are little steps that we have to take to get there, and this assignment against Ireland is one,” Sammy said.

While Ireland may not be among cricket’s elite, Sammy knows all too well that their competitiveness—especially at home—demands respect and proper preparation.

“They are a team that has been very competitive over the years, especially against us. So we are not taking anything for granted in their own conditions, so it’s good that we got here early to get acclimatised, and so far, I love what I see in the nets,” he noted.

With Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd remaining in India to fulfil IPL playoff duties, Sammy believes their absence and, by extension, the Ireland series are a valuable chance to test new combinations. Rutherford was one of West Indies’ top ODI performers last year.

“Looking at these two tours, it gives us an opportunity to see other players. We’ll miss Sherfane; he was one of our ODI players of the year, and his contributions at number five were tremendous, but it gives us an opportunity to see someone else in that position until they come back. This squad is packed with all-rounders who bring different skill sets, with players like Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, and others who can cover that position for Romario Shepherd,” the two-time T20 World Cup-winning captain stated.

That said, Sammy made no secret of the team’s immediate ambition, which is to win the series and set a positive tone for the rest of the year. In fact, he believes success on this tour and against England will not only boost team morale but also provide key insights into squad depth.

“We’re here to win. We have made home our fortress in the Caribbean in the ODI format, so we are looking to get wins overseas as well. This is our first series of 2025, and Ireland, like I said, is very competitive, and they are at home. But have full confidence that we can come here and win the series against them,” he ended.

(Sportsmax)