West Indies skipper Darren Sammy believes the current T20 crop could be comparable to the legendary team of the 1970s and 80s that dominated the world game.The regional team perhaps once the most feared in the Test and One Day International formats have long since lost that reputation on the world stage.
The shortest format of the game, however, has proven to be a different scenario entirely, with the team not only boasting some of the world’s most sought after players but also having claimed the world title in 2012.
“We dominated the world for a good 17 years,” Sammy said at a news conference.
“We had some great players. Right now we are doing that in Twenty20 cricket as we have 15 potential match-winners,” he added.
“It’s one format of the game we are really confident about. When I see all this quality in the dressing room, my job becomes very easy as a captain. I don’t have to tell these players how to go about it. They are seasoned and know their jobs.”
One such player is big left-handed batting star Chris Gayle widely considered to be among the world’s best players. It is Gayle who tops the list of six-hitters in the tournament with 49 and he is also second on the list of runs scored with 807 in 23 games.
Sammy is confident his teammate will make a big difference to the team’s chances of claiming a second world title.
“Chris is a massive figure not only on the field but off the field as well. To me he’s the best Twenty20 batsman, the most destructive one.”(Sportsmax.com)