Darren Sammy has been appointed as the head coach of the West Indies men’s team across all formats. The announcement was made by Cricket West Indies (CWI) Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe during their quarterly press conference in St. Vincent. Darren Sammy will officially take charge of the Test side from April 1, 2025, while continuing to lead the coaching duties for the white-ball teams.
The former West Indies captain replaces Andre Coley as the head coach of the red-ball side. Darren Sammy, who guided West Indies to two T20 World Cup titles in 2012 and 2016 as captain, has already earned praise for his efforts in shaping the white-ball teams since taking over in 2023. His leadership brought renewed energy to the squad, with promising results in limited-overs cricket.
West Indies are currently last in the WTC25 standings, with a 24.24% point percentage and are out of contention for the finale at Lord’s next year. They still have a two-match series against Pakistan away from home to be played between 16-28 January 2025.
Darren Sammy Captained West Indies Across Three Formats
Darren Sammy was part of the squads that won the Champions Trophy in 2004 and the T20 World Cup in 2012 and 2016. Notably, he is the only player to have led the West Indies to two T20 World Cup titles. Apart from his playing career, Darren Sammy has also coached Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Throughout his career, the former all-rounder played 38 Tests, 126 ODIs, and 68 T20Is, scoring 3,781 runs and taking 209 wickets. Darren Sammy led the West Indies team across all three formats of the game. He captained 30 Tests, winning 8 matches, and also served as captain for 51 ODIs and 47 T20Is matches.
Darren Sammy’s appointment reflects CWI’s faith in his ability to inspire and build a competitive team across formats. Known for his tactical acumen and man-management skills, Darren Sammy is expected to bring stability and a clear direction to West Indies cricket, especially in the Test arena, where the team has struggled in recent years.
Darren Sammy to become West Indies team’s all-format head coach from April 2025
Former West Indies captain Darren Sammy is set to serve as the head coach of West Indies men’s senior team across formats from April 1, 2025. The ex-cricketer was initially roped in as the side’s white-ball coach in 2023.
Sammy will now take over the coaching duties in the red-ball format and replace Andre Coley. The announcement of the same was made on Monday, December 16, by Cricket West Indies director of cricket Miles Bascombe during a quarterly press conference in St Vincent.
Speaking about Sammy’s appointment, Bascombe said:
“Post our current World Test Championship campaign, we are going to be expanding Mr Sammy’s role to encompass all formats. When we host Australia next summer, Darren Sammy will be the head coach of all senior men’s teams.”
It is worth mentioning that Darren Sammy is the player to win two T20 World Cups as captain. He led the Caribbean team to championship victories in 2012 and 2016. On the coaching front, he has also served as the head coach of Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the past
“It’s Always an Honor to Represent West Indies” – Darren Sammy
Reacting to his appointment, Darren Sammy expressed his excitement over the new role. He stated that he already has plans ready for the red-ball team. Sammy said in the press conference:
“It’s always an honor to represent West Indies in any format or any position. This news is not something I was expecting. Coaching was something I never saw myself doing, but I must admit the way that is been going, I’ve developed a much stronger passion and love for the job.
“I believe in processes, something that we’ve been able to do in the white-ball format. With his new role, I’ve already mapped out some of the areas and processes that we’ll have to follow in order to be successful,” he added.
Andre Coley’s final assignment as the red-ball coach will be the side’s two-match away series against Pakistan, which begins on January 16, 2025.
As a player and captain, Darren Sammy made significant contributions to West Indies cricket, becoming one of their most influential leaders in modern history. Now, as head coach, he faces the challenge of reviving the Test side while continuing the white-ball progress made under his astute leadership. Darren Sammy’s experience, combined with his deep understanding of Caribbean cricket culture, could prove instrumental in restoring the West Indies’ glory days on the international stage.