17 Facts about Darren Sammy - The World Cup winning Skipper

One of the modern day masters of the West Indies cricket team, Darren Sammy, is a perfect all-rounder to have in a side; he can hit massive sixes and take crucial wickets. Sammy is a colorful personality on and off the field and is an entertainer. Sammy is a right handed batsman who bowls medium pace. He is the current T20I skipper of the West Indian team. While these are some things that is known to all, a few other facts about him are not known to many.

Here are some interesting facts about Darren Sammy:

1. Early Life: 

Darren Sammy was born on December 20, 1983, at Micoud, St. Lucia. Sammy had an inclination towards cricket right from his childhood. He made an early start to cricket and made his List A debut at the age of 17. Playing in the Red Stripe Bowl for the Northern Windward Islands against Jamaica he bowled nine overs without taking a wicket and scored 25 runs before he was run out as his team slid to defeat. He was the second highest run scorer for his side in the tournament.

2. ICC U-19 World Cup:

Owing to his good show in the age group matches, Sammy got a call for the ICC U19 World Cup 2002. The West Indian team reached the semi-finals and lost against the Australian side.

3. Brightest cricketing prospect:

When Sammy returned from the U19 World Cup, he was named to attend the Shell Cricket Academy that aimed to develop the Caribbean’s “brightest cricketing prospects”. He was in the league with other youngsters like Dwayne Smith and Carlton Baugh.

4. First-class debut:

Sammy made his first-class debut for the Windward Islands against Barbados in the 2002/03 Carib Beer Cup. He scored a duck on debut following it up with 25 in the second innings. He scored his maiden first-class fifty in his second match, scoring 53 off 70 balls.

5. The MCC stint:

Sammy joined the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Young Cricketers in the year 2003. While he was still a member of the Young Cricketers side, Sammy was called to the West Indies to join the University of the West Indies Vice Chancellor’s XI against England in a warm-up match.

6. Success in first-class cricket:

Sammy had a successful 2003-04 season for the Windward Islands as he ended being the 2nd highest wicket taker in the regional four-day tournament. He took 22 wickets and finished the tournament with a total of 261 runs.

7. A washed out debut:

Darren Sammy was picked up for the tri-series involving New Zealand, England and West Indies played in England in 2004. He had a forgettable debut as the match was called off without a ball being bowled. The match, however, is counted as his debut match since the toss had taken place.

8. The first and the youngest:

When Sammy made his playing debut against Bangladesh in Champions Trophy match in 2004 at the age of 20, he became the youngest and the first ever player from St. Lucia to play for the West Indies national team.

9. Remarkable Test debut:

Sammy made his Test debut against England at Old Trafford in 2007. In the second innings, he picked up 7/66 which was the best bowling figures for a West Indian in his first Test since Alf Valentine in 1950. The bowling effort included a series of 3 wickets in 5 balls.

10. Fastest ODI fifty:

During the 2nd ODI of South Africa’s tour to West Indies in 2010, Darren Sammy reached his 50 in just 20 balls. It was the fastest fifty ever by a West Indies player. Sammy finished his innings at 58 runs. However, his quickfire fifty couldn’t take his side home as West Indies lost by 17 runs.

11. Captaincy role:

In 2010, Sammy was named the captain of the West Indies team for the tour to Sri Lanka. The series was lost but in Sammy’s defence, he had a poorly-experienced side to lead since the ‘big’ players of the team like Chris Gayle and Bravo chose not to tour due to their tiff with the WICB.

12. Captaincy record:

Darren Sammy led West Indies in 25 Tests, winning 8 and losing 8. In the 51 ODIs that he led the team, Windies could win just 19 and lost 30 with 1 game each ended in a tie and without a result. He has been a prolific T20 skipper though as he has won 12 out of 21 games leading the team. He is the current skipper of the West Indies T20 team.

13. Maiden Test century:

It took Sammy 4 years to register his maiden and the only Test century of his career. Playing against England, Sammy came in to bat at number 8. He partnered Marlon Samuels in a 204-run stand, the second-highest for the seventh wicket for West Indies. It was his 26th Test, and Sammy registered his maiden Test century. It was just the seventh time a number eight batsman had scored a century for the West Indies. He ended with a score of 106.

14. Captaincy wonder: The World Cup win:

The West Indies side looked like a diminishing wonder of the cricket world. It was under Sammy’s leadership that they came out of nowhere to emerge as the World T20 champions in 2012. Since the Champions Trophy win in 2004, this was the first major ICC World event victory for the team in 8 years.

15. IPL career:

Darren Sammy was a part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise in the IPL before being traded into the Royal Challengers Bangalore this year. He also led the Sunrisers in the IPL.

16. Personal life:

Darren Sammy married his childhood girlfriend Cathy Daniel in  2010.

17. Unique celebration: All for the baby:

The Sunrisers skipper during the IPL 2014, Darren Sammy, became a proud father. He simply couldn’t hide his happiness as he always celebrated with the famous cradle dance of his after taking every wicket. He also had a baby pacifier tied around his neck and celebrated with it big time throughout the tournament.