'More will follow. It's out of our control': WI coach Darren Sammy expects more abrupt retirements like Nicholas Pooran

Time of India

a day ago

West Indies coach Daren Sammy voiced concerns over Nicholas Pooran's premature international retirement, hinting at a potential trend due to T20 franchise cricket's allure. Sammy emphasised the significance of national pride and fan loyalty, recalling West Indies' rich cricket heritage. In Pooran's absence, the team faced defeats in England, exposing bowling frailties.
West Indies cricket coach Daren Sammy addressed
Nicholas Pooran
's unexpected retirement from international cricket at age 29, expressing concern about keeping players motivated to represent their nation while predicting more early retirements to follow.
Pooran, West Indies' all-time leading T20I run-scorer, announced his retirement eight months before the T20 World Cup, despite his successful career in franchise cricket.
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Sammy revealed he had anticipated Pooran's decision before the official announcement, having had prior conversations with both the player and his agent.
"My instincts told me something like that would happen," Sammy said on Tuesday night, after West Indies' sixth consecutive defeat on their white-ball tour to England.
"Nicholas sent me a text message, and so did I have a conversation with his agent as well… When we first spoke about the UK tour and the conversation I had with him, I did ask him, 'Are you unavailable for the UK tour only, or indefinite?' And from that response, I just knew I had to start preparing for the worst case.
"
Pooran's international career notably never included Test cricket, with his last ODI appearance coming two years ago.
Sammy shared his perspective on team pride during a pre-match meeting in Southampton, emphasising the historical significance of representing West Indies.
It is up to each player to go out and put in that type of passion out there. I could only speak about it, but I can't force anybody to do it
Darren Sammy
"Surprised? No, I'm not surprised," Sammy said. "I said something to the guys in the team meeting today: we don't have control. It's up to each individual. I made my debut in 2004 right at this ground, and I see here today in the stands the same people from 2004 - 21 years ago - the same fans: loyal, coming, bringing food, and everything they've been doing that way before I started, for Sir Viv [Richards] and these guys."
Sammy continued his reflection on the passionate West Indies fan base and cricket heritage.
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"The passion they have travelling from London, all over, coming to watch us playing - not because we are great, [but] because of the love they have for the game and for West Indies cricket; what it meant to them when West Indies came here back in the 80s with Sir Viv and Clive [Lloyd], and they won games; the feeling it gave them during that era, walking down the streets, going to work the following day."
The coach acknowledged the personal nature of such career decisions while stressing on team values.
You saw everybody talk about Heinrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock, these guys who've retired. It's out of our control
Darren Sammy
"It is up to us, each individual, to understand what the brand and the crest means, and come out and play a brand that those people come and travel three hours to watch you play because of what the crest means to them. It is up to each player to go out and put in that type of passion out there. I could only speak about it, but I can't force anybody to do it, just like I can't tell anybody when to call time on their career."
Sammy predicted similar retirement decisions from other players, citing recent examples from South African cricket.
"I'm pretty sure more will follow in that mood, in that direction," Sammy said. "That's the way T20 cricket is now, and especially coming from the West Indies, with the challenges that we face trying to keep our players motivated to play for the crest, so I wouldn't be surprised. You saw everybody talk about Heinrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock, these guys who've retired.
It's out of our control."
The West Indies team struggled in England without Pooran, losing both ODI and T20I series 3-0, before heading to Ireland for upcoming T20I matches.
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Do you think more West Indies players will retire early like Pooran?
Yes, it seems likely.
No, this is an isolated case.
It depends on personal circumstances.
Sammy expressed particular concern about the team's bowling performance, after conceding 628 runs in 58.3 overs during the T20I series, including 248 runs in Southampton.
"It's a question of skills," Sammy said. "When being put under pressure, do we have the skillset to be disciplined with our plans? Do we back our ability long enough? Especially from a bowling point of view, we've been trying to search: how do we restrict things when they put us under the pump? [...] It's a conversation with a World Cup in less than eight months: how do we get our bowling right?"
Sammy remained optimistic about the team's batting prospects while acknowledging defensive challenges.
"I think the batting will be more consistent. They have been over the last two years, but we can't keep asking our batters to chase down high-200s, and then when we set 190 or 200, our bowling has yet to defend it. But I'm a very positive guy… We have enough time and games to put a combination together that could help us be successful."