I was trying to work out the puzzle as to how Daren Sammy, who has little or no official coaching qualifications, was handed the role of coach of our Test team. Then I read an interview with Roston Chase, the new 鈥渉and-picked鈥 Test captain, and the pieces started to fall in place.
Sammy said recently, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 let my emotions influence my selections.鈥 He claims his team selection is driven by data. So, what data influenced him to talk Chase into coming back to the West Indies team?
And the million-dollar question is when did he lure Chase into returning and what was the prize? A man who has not played Test cricket for over two years and was 鈥渇ocusing鈥 on franchise cricket during this period?
The timetable of events that took place paints a very questionable picture. Our most experienced coach in the region, Andre Coley, was relieved of his duties before the Pakistan tour earlier this year that we drew one all, incidentally. Sammy was handed the job of coach of the Test team on April 1, 2025, seemingly hand-picked by CWI.
Chase was appoin-ted WI captain follow-ing the implementation of a so-called ground-breaking selection process.
CWI claimed it adopted a data–informed multi-dimensional framework to guide selection and that this marks a significant evolution in how leadership appointments are made, aimed at strengthening accountability, trans-parency and alignment with modern cricketing standards.
This 鈥渟mokescreen鈥 began with a shortlist of candidates based on Test experience, leadership qualities and captaincy credentials. The question begs then: how on earth could Mr Chase pass this first stage?
The rest of the selection process included psycho-metric testing to evaluate leadership style, behaviour and overall suitability for the role, as well as structured interviews focused on tactical approach, communication skills and team culture.
The interview panel consisted of Sammy, Miles Bascombe and Enoch Lewis, and recommended Chase as captain and Warrican as vice-captain, and this was unanimously approved by the CWI board.
There is a saying attributed to Mark Twain who then attributed it to British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli鈥-鈥渢here are three kinds of lies鈥攍ies, damned lies and statistics鈥. Oftentimes we can take statistics too far and if used blindly and without context, you end up doing a disservice.
The value of numbers disappears when you do not think about the bigger picture. Chase previously led West Indies in two white ball internationals, but despite the recent lack of game time in red ball cricket and limited captaincy experience, he was picked as Test captain.
Chase said, 鈥淚鈥檝e never captained a senior team in terms of the West Indies team or Barbados team. But I鈥檝e captained eight teams in the West Indies before鈥擨 did most of my captaining in my early days like school level and local divisions.鈥 Chase claims he has a calm style and he really knows how to bring out the best in the players he has.
Chase said he was asked in 2024 to come back at that time he was finding his feet and trying to get into franchise leagues.
Chase said he wasn鈥檛 quite ready but after he had a conversation with Sammy and Bascombe, he seemed to find his footing. Maybe he had lost his footing in the franchise market and decided it was the right time to come back.
So the question automatically arises: was Chase promised the job as captain? He said, 鈥淪ammy is the one who approached me for a comeback鈥擨 think I am a good leader and I know how to bring out the best in players.鈥
Where is the data to back this up? Which players did he bring the best out of?
I have little doubt in my mind the process for captaincy could have been flawed. Was Sammy hand-picked as coach and is now hand-picking a captain and a team to the detriment of many youngsters in the West Indies? And supported by data?
Time does not allow me to delve into his data-based theory, but suffice it to say that Mikyle Louis averages 19.88 in Tests; John Campbell, 26.11; Braithwaite, 20.66 in 2024 and 21 in 2025; and Brandon King is making his debut.
Did I mention we are playing against Australia and we are 鈥渢inkering鈥 with our Test team?
Daren Sammy is now the sole executioner in the private West Indies Cricket Board鈥攕o the three-week interview for captain was a show for the Caribbean people. CWI now has the once mighty West Indies as the laughing stock of world cricket.
So 鈥渃utting to the chase鈥, our Test team has a coach who has little or no official qualifications and a captain who, at best, has captained village teams!
I honestly do not think we can sink any lower, but then again, two-tier Test cricket is looming. This commentary is being submitted before a ball is bowled in the first Test.