Encouraging Signs for West Indies
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy believes his team has made significant progress despite remaining at the bottom of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 standings.
The Caribbean side recently completed a demanding run of four Test matches in just over a month, recording two victories and suffering one defeat. They also won one series and drew another, results that Sammy believes demonstrate encouraging signs as the team continues its rebuilding process.
Batting Improvement Takes Center Stage
For Sammy, the biggest source of satisfaction has been the improvement shown by West Indies’ batters, particularly during the first innings of their recent Test matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The head coach acknowledged that the team remains a work in progress, but he believes the batting unit is beginning to show the resilience required to compete consistently in the longest format.
Aiming to Bat Longer
Sammy revealed that one of the team’s key objectives was to increase the number of overs it survived in its first innings. West Indies had previously been averaging only around 60 overs before losing their wickets.
The coaching staff wanted the players either to score more quickly or remain at the crease for longer periods, allowing the team to put itself in a stronger position during Test matches.
Ninety Overs as a Target
According to Sammy, reaching 90 overs in the first innings became one of the team’s important performance indicators. Extending an innings to that point would give West Indies a much better opportunity to remain competitive and potentially reach the second new ball.
“Batting more [made me proud],” Sammy told reporters after the second Test against Pakistan in Port of Spain.
He explained that the team had been working toward moving its first-innings average from approximately 60 overs to at least 90, a target he viewed as an important step in the side’s development.
Mixed Results Against Pakistan
The latest Test series against Pakistan ended with West Indies suffering a defeat in the second match in Port of Spain. Despite the disappointment, Sammy remained positive about the broader progress made by his players.
The result followed a productive period in which West Indies had also faced Sri Lanka, giving the team valuable experience against different opponents and testing its developing Test structure.
Results Do Not Tell the Whole Story
Although West Indies remain at the bottom of the WTC table, Sammy believes the standings do not fully reflect the improvements taking place within the squad.
The coach appears more focused on building sustainable habits and developing a team capable of competing over long periods rather than judging progress solely through rankings.
Building for the Future
The recent batting performances have provided West Indies with a foundation to build upon. Greater patience, improved shot selection and longer first innings could help the side become more competitive in future WTC assignments.
Sammy’s emphasis on measurable goals also suggests that the coaching staff are attempting to create clear standards for improvement.
Pride Despite the Setback
While the defeat to Pakistan ended the latest campaign on a disappointing note, Sammy’s assessment remained overwhelmingly positive. He believes the progress made by the batting group represents one of the clearest signs that West Indies are moving in the right direction.
For a team still undergoing development, maintaining that upward trajectory could prove more important than immediate movement in the WTC standings.