Sammy is the right choice

David Hinds writes on the Caribbean Cricket blog that the person captaining West Indies needs to understand the tradition and history of the Caribbean and the region's cricket, and the impact the team's performance has on collective self-confidence of people in the West Indies. Hinds backs the appointment of Darren Sammy as captain because Sammy has West Indian pride in him and plays with the passion that lifted the team to the top on the past.

Sammy is now the captain -- it's renewal time. He represents a break with the market-oriented leadership. But cricket is a team sport. He must now use his skills to persuade the rest of the team to return to our roots. More than any captain since Richards he has the cultural instincts to lead a renewal of our cricket. But he needs the support of the wider society. The senseless chatting by some of the chattering class that he cannot gain selection to the team on merit should be excused—it points to the low level of public discourse in the region. But as CLR James would retort: What do they know of cricket who only cricket knows.