Sammy lauds Windies Unity ahead of final Bangladesh Test

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy believed that a Test series victory over Bangladesh would mark the ultimate reward for his team’s strategic growth throughout the World Test Championship cycle.

He also praised his team's deep commitment and unity as they approach a landmark milestone. Highlighting their progress in Test cricket, Sammy noted that the players have successfully tuned out outside distractions to stay fully focused on performance.

“It's gonna be a big bigger achievement. As you know, Bangladesh before this was forfeit in Test Championship, they've played some really good cricket and are well coached by Phil (Simmons),” he said before the second Test against Bangladesh on Wednesday.

“It would be a massive end, a great end to for us in the Test Championship because we all know when we took over, when I took over and we looked at the first three-four series, when we got Australia at home with a new team, then India, in India and then New Zealand, away New Zealand. That was three tough baptisms in my Test coaching career. So, these are things we spoke about in the dressing room and we were speaking about by the time we get to Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh with the stability that the team could have, these are where we would make inroads and we're right on course to finish with the goal we had in mind in this Test cycle,” he added.

West Indies earlier took a 1-0 lead with an 8-wicket victory against hosts Bangladesh in the opening Test in Mirpur. However, ahead of the final Test, Sammy is aiming for a 2-0 series sweep against Bangladesh as a special early Christmas gift for Caribbean fans.

The coach admitted he is eager to return home to his family for the holidays after a long stretch on the road. "As the skipper said to the guys, that would be a good Christmas present for us," he added.  

Sammy credited batting coach Floyd Reifer and months of targeted preparation for the team's growing comfort against spin in Bangladesh conditions.  

"To put out a display, especially chasing a tricky total like that in the second innings, the way the guys played, we just want them to continue," Sammy said.

"Consistency in performance is the way that brings results for you in any format of the game."  

When asked about the pace-spin balance for the upcoming Test in Sylhet, Sammy noted that the West Indies have assembled a versatile squad capable of adapting to whatever pitch conditions they encounter.