Sammy demands patience at the crease as West Indies prepare for Sri Lanka Test challenge

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy says the team’s preparation ahead of its two-match Test series against Sri Lanka centered heavily on one key area, developing the ability to bat for extended periods.

As the Caribbean side prepares to open the series at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Thursday, Sammy revealed that the 10-day training camp, which concluded on Monday, was designed to strengthen the batting foundation needed to compete in the longest format.

The West Indies enter the series searching for their first Test victory in more than two years, and Sammy believes improved batting endurance will be essential to changing that narrative.

Creating the discipline to occupy the crease

Sammy explained that the team’s work has been built around addressing challenges experienced during the opening matches of the current World Test Championship cycle.

“For us, over the first six matches in this World Test Championship we have focused on batting for long periods and not losing so many wickets in a session and the ability to not let the bowling get into our bowling lineup when someone is bowling a good spell,” Sammy said.

The former West Indies captain stressed that success in Test cricket requires a different mindset from the shorter formats, where quick scoring and immediate impact often dominate.

He said the players have been encouraged to place greater value on their time at the crease and understand the demands of a five-day contest.

“Those are areas that we focused on; so, a lot of concentration, a lot of attention to detail, especially when you’re in the nets batting, putting a price on your wicket and to bat long because it’s not a sprint, more like a marathon and your true character will be tested in all formats of the game,” Sammy added.

Preparing for Antigua’s conditions

Although West Indies will enjoy home advantage, Sammy said preparation was not simply about familiarity with the venue.

The coaching staff has been studying the expected conditions at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and tailoring the team’s approach to counter Sri Lanka’s strengths.

The Caribbean side has also examined how the pitch may behave and what tactical adjustments will be required throughout the series.

“We trained specifically to looking at the conditions that we may face, what we expect here in Antigua and what we have to do in order to match Sri Lanka’s skill set and get the better of them,” Sammy explained.

He added that the team believes it has gained valuable insight into the playing surface.

“We’ve looked at the surface and we have a fair idea of how it’s going to play, so all of our preparations have been tailored towards that,” Sammy said.

A test of patience and character awaits

With Sri Lanka arriving as the next challenge, West Indies know the series will demand more than natural ability.

Sammy’s message throughout the camp has been centered on resilience, surviving difficult spells, building partnerships, and ensuring that promising starts develop into meaningful contributions.

For the West Indies, the upcoming Test series represents an opportunity to turn preparation into performance and rediscover the consistency required at the highest level of red-ball cricket.

caribbeanationalweekly.com